life.

-Is everything okay, sweetheart? - Laura, Alice's roommate, asked.

-Yes, I have to go back to San Jose. My boyfriend is back from his shoot, and well, we'll spend the weekend together, - said Alice.

Laura could only shake her head. In Laura's eyes, Billy Carson is not a good guy for Alice, and that's putting it mildly. Alice sacrifices a lot for Billy, but he sacrifices for her too. Love is disproportionate.

-Just take care, - said Laura.

-Relax, Laura, you're always so dramatic, - said Alice.

Her curls were loose, just the way Billy liked them. She wore a long black dress, and she left the university room, sighing. She didn't have much money—so she asked her father. No way.

The small yellow car was parked, a gift from her sister when she entered university. Standing there with crossed arms was Ethan Miller, the damn stalker who, after three years, continued to harass her relentlessly. Three months without being able to hug Billy had a certain discomfort; the joy of being united with Billy was normal for her. It was the longest they had been apart since they started dating.

-Alice, I have some chocolates for you, - said Ethan.

-Thanks, but no thanks, - said Alice, entering her room, ignoring Ethan.

-It's a special gift I bought for you, - said the boy, disappointed by his goddess's rejection. From the very beginning, he fell completely in love with her—her sweet smile, her long hair, and her kindness. He's not the only one, but he's the only one with the guts to be rejected again and again.

Alice hesitated. "Thanks," she said.

Ethan jumped for joy like a child when he saw Alice accepting the chocolates. Alice couldn't help but laugh at his childish behavior; she felt flattered. The yellow car started, leaving Ethan smiling, saddened because he knew Alice was going to see her boyfriend.

*****************************************************

The Toy Story accounts are fabulous, but many black spots cannot be ignored. The operating cost is ridiculously high, and so are the debts—almost $13 million unpaid between the cities in the United States. The second problem was found. What to do when the cinemas don't pay? Lawsuits may seem like an obvious solution, but it's not advisable for future negotiations and exhibitions. Unfortunately, there isn't someone experienced behind the scenes to tell him what to do in such situations, and for now, he can only bite hard and wait to see how things unfold.

Is this another Warner plot, or perhaps another hidden plot by Disney?

-That's all, - said Anne.

-Thanks, Anne. I suppose you used this money over the loan, - Billy asked.

-Of course, the loan money is still intact. I've even paid the salaries for this year for all the workers in various companies. Now, Raimon just needs to use that money wisely in his negotiations in Malaysia and Thailand, - Anne said.

Billy thought. "Did you buy the company Autodesk requested?"

-Oh, it's done. Although you should moderate the growth of that company a bit. In the last four years, we've made six purchases of small companies, and I think, if possible, we should only make necessary acquisitions. Also, I finalized the last procedures for the construction. Now, with this new idea of a common food area, the loan becomes more necessary than initially thought, - said Anne.

-Thanks, Anne, - said Billy, returning to his office with the financial statements and some reports on the company's investments. Toy Story's profits were used to invest in upcoming Pixar movies, such as Ice Age and The Iron Giant. Taxes were paid, and, of course, some film rights were purchased, such as Meteor and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Lastly, the Tor Books publishing company was acquired, with a down payment of $5.5 million as a promise to purchase.

In the adjacent room, Billy's graphics and technical team continued their work on his series. This time, they were advancing drafts for Cowboy Bebop, a three-volume release for the summer season, and completing the final designs for Yu Yu Yakusho, which was now at nine chapters, and it was time to establish an ending once and for all.

T

The afternoon passed, and Billy managed to finish Chapter 7 of the One Piece work. His phone had five missed calls, as the screen illuminated. Two were from his father, and three were from Alice.

-Today is Friday, - thought Billy.

From the parking lot, he called his father, who answered promptly, insisting on a family dinner that was mandatory for him to attend since he needed to join the family. He reluctantly agreed after a bit of discussion with his father.

-Hello, beautiful, - said Billy.

Alice was on the phone. She had been at her parents' house for two and a half hours, delayed and without a penny in her pockets, just waiting to return home for lunch.

-Were you working? - Alice asked.

-Yes, sweetheart and I'm sorry. Come, let me pick you up. Are you at Jessica's house or... with a friend? - asked Billy.

-I'm at my parents' house. Come, - said Alice, who now only had accumulated thoughts. Her eyes welled up, as she always did when she wanted to be pampered and loved.

-I'm on my way, -said Billy.

He started the car as soon as he could, arriving in less than twenty minutes to provide the care that Alice needed. There were several missed calls, but Alice kept many things to herself, and Billy would only know what was going on when he saw her. He parked in front of Alice's house and rang the doorbell.

Tentatively, Alice stood there in a long black dress with her hair properly arranged. She gave Billy pleading eyes, and he approached, embracing her tightly. He could feel how Alice squeezed him with force; her slender arms didn't exert much strength but provided comfort.

-What's going on? - asked Billy.

-It's been a while since I last saw you, - said Alice, her eyes teary again. Billy lifted her with strength and held her slender body while swaying for a good while, leaving her a little disheveled but more cheerful. Billy approached and gave her a deep kiss. He wanted to do this; it's no secret that his last moments with Mila were chaotic, and the farewell almost led him to make a mistake. The warmth of women can weaken even the most experienced man.

Alice's lips received the kiss with almost insane pleasure, and she felt intoxicated by Billy's passionate kiss. Billy stopped kissing her, but his thumb touched her lips with ignited lust. In a bold gesture, Alice's chemical reaction could only arch her back, feeling Billy's possessiveness.

-Come, we have to go, - said Billy, giving her a small kiss.

-Yes, - said Alice, adjusting a small black purse.

************************************************************

-Are you coming, brat? - Ivanova said to Claudia in an obvious women's quarrel. Both had a fighting spirit, and neither was willing to yield to the other's words.

-To hell with you, - said Claudia.

-To hell with your tongue, you wretch, - Ivanova said in a Slavic language that Thomas couldn't understand.

-Big words for a chatterbox, - said Claudia in German. He didn't understand very well, but the argument was starting to get out of control, and now he could see that both women wouldn't back down.

Thomas set aside his newspaper, and his tall body, bear-like, taller than his father and brothers, stood in front of Ivanova. - You must calm down; it's not good for the twins, - said the lawyer.

-But... -

-Calm down, Livy. Claudia, Billy is not upset with you. He's just reserved and tends to be private. You'll find that his anger is directed towards me, and, of course, I forgave you a long time ago, - Thomas said conciliatorily.

-I don't like feeling uncomfortable, - said Claudia.

-You won't be. It's just a family meal. You have the evening to go out with your friends and enjoy, - said Thomas.

-Can I borrow the car? - Claudia asked.

Thomas sighed internally and only nodded. He's not used to dealing with teenagers, and Claudia's 18 years are undoubtedly a testament to her behavior. The twins will be worse. He can't imagine it and feels old.

...