Linda Fiorentino denied, "I'm not looking for trouble, Mr. Westeros. I'm just fighting for what I deserve".
Simon said mockingly, "Then have you ever considered that you're overestimating your own strength?"
Linda Fiorentino showed no fear under Simon's gaze. She slightly raised her chin and said, "I have to try, don't I?"
The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly quieted. Brian De Palma looked intrigued, and Jonathan Friedman and the others remained spectators. Only Linda Fiorentino's agent looked crestfallen, worried that Simon Westeros would suddenly tell him to take this foolish woman and leave.
Simon observed Linda Fiorentino across the conference table for a moment, then set down his pencil, leaned back in his office chair, and said, "Tell me, what do you want?"
"Reduce the amount of nudity," Linda Fiorentino said, "I just said that".
Simon said, "I also just said that if you insist on that demand, you can leave now".
Linda Fiorentino paused before saying, "At least the shot where my crotch is visible must be cut".
Simon refused, "This is a very important plot point and cannot be removed. But I can guarantee that even if someone plays it frame by frame in the future, they won't see anything".
Linda Fiorentino brought the cigarette back to her lips, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I don't want to be labelled as an erotic film actress. After this movie, Daenerys Pictures must allow me to pick another role from your production slate".
Simon said, "I've seen your performance in Martin Scorsese's After Hours, and it was pretty good. Letting you pick any role is impossible, but I can help you arrange something".
Linda Fiorentino's face flashed with surprise when Simon agreed so readily, but she quickly added, "It must be a lead role, and it can't involve nudity".
Simon nodded, "No problem".
Although she felt that Simon Westeros seemed a bit too accommodating, Linda Fiorentino quickly continued, "Also, $100,000 for a salary is too low. I want $300,000".
Simon nodded again, "Alright".
Linda Fiorentino looked at Simon, even doubting if this young man was playing a trick on her: "All of this must be written into the contract".
Simon agreed, "Of course. Do you have any other requests?"
Linda Fiorentino thought for a moment, then shook her head, "No, that's all".
"Then, let me tell you my demands," Simon sat up straight, his gaze sharp as he stared at the woman, emphasizing his words, "Put out that cigarette!"
Linda Fiorentino's right hand, holding the cigarette, trembled slightly. After a brief standoff, she finally extinguished the cigarette in an ashtray Jennifer handed her.
Simon waited for the woman to put out her cigarette, then said, "Your performance just now perfectly matched the personality of the lead character, Catherine Tramell: flamboyant, sharp-tongued, and assertive. Therefore, I forgive your rudeness this time, but only this once. If I ever see you smoking in a work meeting again, I will have you thrown out immediately".
Linda Fiorentino listened to Simon's merciless scolding and unconsciously straightened her back.
However, thinking of the terms she had just negotiated, Linda Fiorentino involuntarily suppressed the urge to lash out. $300,000, that was 100 times the salary she received for her first role three years ago. When she quoted that price, she actually thought it would be remarkable if she could even get it raised to $150,000.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Linda Fiorentino suddenly realized something and looked at Simon again.
This man was truly a devil who loved to manipulate people's hearts.
If it had only been $100,000, even if the negotiation fell apart, she wouldn't have felt too bad; she wasn't particularly interested in a role with so much nudity to begin with. But $300,000? That would be very difficult for her to refuse so easily.
Although she had always considered herself someone who didn't care much about money, having grown up in an Italian immigrant family with eight children, she had never seen $300,000 in her life.
Such a sum would be enough to secure her livelihood for the next few years.
What's more.
Two lead roles. How many actresses never get such an opportunity in their entire lives?
Simon didn't care if Linda Fiorentino had guessed his intentions. He continued, "Since you've gotten what you wanted, you must now fully commit to this film. I don't want to hear any more opinions from you about the role you need to play. I can tell you very clearly: if this film succeeds, you will definitely become one of Hollywood's most famous actresses, and the next role I promised you will elevate your acting career to the next level. But if it gets messed up, and it's messed up because of you, I can guarantee that there will be no place for you in Hollywood".
Linda Fiorentino's emotions were stirred again, and she questioned, "Mr. Westeros, are you threatening me?"
"Yes", Simon nodded and said, "But you can still back out now. The door is right there. And don't ever say things like others having no other choice again. Hollywood has no shortage of actors".
Linda Fiorentino felt the man's gaze across from her, clutched the handbag beside her, but ultimately did not get up, simply turning her face away.
Seeing the woman completely yield, Simon then turned to the others and said, "Let's continue".
After discussing for another half an hour and finalizing the matter, Simon then discussed some issues regarding Robert De Niro and the two scripts with Jonathan before leaving WMA headquarters.
Inside the car.
Simon reopened the airplane documents and asked his female assistant beside him, "What's next on the schedule?"
Jennifer checked her memo and said, "Dave Stevens, the author of The Rocketeer, is coming at four o'clock".
Simon remembered this sci-fi comic set in 1930s and 40s America. With a pile of things recently, he really didn't want to spend too much effort on this 'grain of sand' he had casually thrown in. He decided to just go through the motions after the upcoming meeting, hoping the project would naturally fall through.
Having made up his mind, Simon asked again, "Is next week's itinerary ready?"
Jennifer turned a page in her memo and said, "Monday is the supporting cast audition for 'Basic Instinct'. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are for the San Francisco trip. Besides checking the filming locations for 'Basic Instinct', I've already arranged for you to visit Silicon Graphics and Pixar Animation Studios. Friday, we'll head to Park City to attend the opening ceremony of this year's Sundance Film Festival".
In the 1990s, many blockbusters, including 'Jurassic Park' and 'Independence Day', used professional graphics workstations from Silicon Graphics for their CGI effects. Currently, Silicon Graphics is still a small company and one of Westeros Company's equity-held enterprises.
Simon had already contacted them earlier, hoping to accelerate the development of CGI effects, and Silicon Graphics was also very enthusiastic about this.
As for Pixar, it was naturally for 3D animation.
"Also, um", Simon remembered something else, was about to speak, then said, "I'll handle this myself".
Since he was going to San Francisco, he would definitely make time to visit Dr. Henry Chapman. There was no need for Jennifer to arrange such a thing; it was just a matter of making a phone call in advance.
However, as he reviewed next week's schedule, Simon realized that he wouldn't be able to focus on the post-production of 'Pulp Fiction' for another week. Fortunately, the film's production was nearing completion, and the release date was set for June 3rd. Even if they planned to participate in the Cannes Film Festival, it was only January, so it definitely wouldn't cause a delay.
Overtime on the weekend, however, was unavoidable.
As the SUV entered Santa Monica and approached the Daenerys Pictures headquarters, Jennifer looked at Simon beside her and suddenly said, "I didn't expect you to be so strict with a beautiful lady".
Simon glanced at his assistant and said, "If you're disobedient, I can be very strict too".
Jennifer dodged the man's gaze and said, "If you make any unreasonable demands, I definitely won't listen. And I wouldn't give in for $300,000".
"I never thought money could make a person yield, unless it's a lot, a lot of money. However, everyone has their weaknesses, and once you find them, that's all it takes. A third-tier actress, not in great financial shape, and eager for fame, her weaknesses are money and opportunity. I can give her these, and I can easily take them away. So, she can only yield to me".
Jennifer hesitated, then tentatively asked, "What about me?"
Simon shook his head: "I don't know".
Jennifer, however, suddenly stated with conviction, "You definitely know".
Simon smiled and said, "Perhaps, but we'll have to try".
Jennifer hesitated for a moment, then boldly looked at Simon and said, "Then, you try".
"Really?"
"Really".
Simon placed the folder on his lap aside, reached out, and gently brushed aside Jennifer's beautiful blonde hair.
The moment the man's fingers touched her hair, Jennifer felt like a small squirrel encountering a predator, completely frozen in fear.
Oh my God.
He.
He really touched her hair.
But, this, this is in the car.
This won't do.
Feeling the man's breath getting closer, she wanted to flee, but found that she couldn't even move her fingertips.
Magic?
Hmm.
He's a wizard.
It wasn't until the man brushed aside her blonde hair, gently kissed her fair, jade-like neck, and then sat back that Jennifer felt her body soften again.
Then, she heard his seemingly triumphant voice again: "See, I found it. From now on, tie your hair up neatly; I like to see it".
She hung her head, fumbling with her shoulder bag.
She really wanted to accuse him of cheating or something.
However.
She didn't know how much time had passed, the car must have already stopped in the parking lot, and then she seemed to, perhaps, vaguely remember letting out a soft 'mm'.
After the weekend.
The date was January 11th, Monday.
Many people had initially thought this would be another very ordinary week, but with a piece of news from New York, Hollywood once again turned its attention to a certain young man who would turn twenty next month.
Westeros Company submitted filing documents to the SEC on the first trading day of the week, claiming to hold a 5% stake in New World Entertainment. After the filing, Westeros Company did not stop, continuing to acquire New World Entertainment stock.
After the market closed that day, New World Entertainment's stock price, which had been hovering at a low of $7.5, easily broke through $8.
But this was just the beginning.
Early the next morning, as soon as the New York Stock Exchange opened, New World Entertainment's stock price surged past $9, and during the day's trading, it even approached $10.
Having just acquired a huge amount of capital by reducing its Motorola stock holdings, if Westeros Company continued to increase its holdings in tech stocks, it might not have caused too much market reaction.
However, when Simon Westeros turned his attention to a comprehensive media company operating film, television, and comic businesses, the intention of this operation became a little too obvious.
Daenerys Pictures had not only invested a large amount of capital in purchasing copyrights during this period but also successively invested in multiple film projects such as 'Basic Instinct', 'Rain Man', 'Dead Poets Society', and 'Scream'. To ensure the production and distribution of these films, Simon Westeros would certainly need to further expand his company.
With ample capital, expansion through acquisition was undoubtedly the fastest shortcut.
Simon Westeros's net worth was not enough to acquire any of the seven major film studios, so a second-tier media company like New World Entertainment seemed perfectly suitable.
However, the subsequent development of events still somewhat exceeded many people's expectations.
After Simon's operations in the stock index futures market were exposed at the end of last year, he had always been a key focus of Wall Street. Several months later, many investment institutions were still following Westeros Company's operations, firmly supporting the tech stock market.
Now, Westeros Company suddenly showed interest in a completely new company, and many investors almost instinctively started to follow suit.
New World Entertainment was, after all, just a small company with a total share capital of only 25 million and a market value of less than $200 million before Westeros Company's filing. As the news of Westeros Company's shareholding filing continued to spread, more and more investors poured in, and New World Entertainment's stock price reached $15 by the close of trading on Wednesday. Compared to the previous week, the stock price had completely doubled, and its market value had surged to $3.75 billion.
Simon and James had previously agreed on an acquisition premium ceiling of 50% for New World Entertainment. Although they had anticipated a significant rise in New World Entertainment's stock price after the announcement, neither of them had expected so many people to 'join the fun,' doubling the company's stock price in just three days.
Now, due to the public statement of not reducing his stock portfolio for at least one year, even if New World Entertainment's stock price doubled, Simon simply couldn't afford to acquire it. Moreover, he wouldn't be a fool to overpay.
James's advice to Simon was also to immediately sell all the shares he held.
Westeros Company had acquired a total of 1.75 million shares before New World Entertainment's stock price reached $10, holding a 7% stake. Since an acquisition was no longer feasible, selling now would still allow Westeros Company to make a small profit.