Chapter 391: The Bait was Taken

[Chapter 391: The Bait was Taken]

If it weren't for the impending conflict in the Middle East, Eric would have undoubtedly replaced George Bush as the Person of the Year for Time magazine.

However, Time still reached out to Eric, inviting him to grace the cover of the magazine's first issue of the year, alongside a detailed interview. Overwhelmed with work, Eric had someone decline the invitation for him. 

After rejecting requests from several major media outlets for interviews, the outlets resorted to aggressive tactics, with an army of paparazzi staking out around Eric, hoping to capture any useful tidbit. Eric's lavish mansion in Beverly Hills could no longer shield him from their fervent pursuit, forcing him to retreat to the more secure Malibu estate.

After Robert Shea was removed from his position, he attempted to sabotage Firefly's distribution channels using his connections. However, on the very day Robert left, Eric swiftly sprang into action with the help of Michael Lynn, re-establishing the distribution channels that Robert had previously controlled.

Although Eric had yet to meet with any cinema chain operators or video distributors directly, they were sure to protect their interests. Although he faced some minor obstacles, everything returned to normal for Firefly within a week.

...

"So, I hope we can work together smoothly, Mr. Caden," Eric stated, shaking hands with the pleasantly plump middle-aged man after lunch at a well-known restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. This man was an executive from AMC Theatres, and Eric had spent much of the past few days making connections with people like him.

Cohen Caden grinned as he shook Eric's hand. "Absolutely, I'm confident we will have a delightful collaboration, Mr. Williams."

The two chatted casually as they exited the restaurant, only for the waiting journalists outside to quickly surround them. Although Eric's bodyguards quickly formed a barrier, the reporters frantically clicked their cameras and shouted questions at Eric.

Eric had intended to reach the parking lot as quickly as possible, but Cohen seemed to relish the attention, even striking a pose he thought was charming under the flashes. Seeing this, Eric simply smiled and gestured to his guards to hold off on pushing through the reporters, allowing the eager Cohen to enjoy the spotlight a bit longer.

Noticing their brief pause, the paparazzi's shouts grew louder, but Eric remained silent while Cohen enthusiastically answered a few questions.

...

After bidding farewell to Cohen, Eric climbed into his car and found Allen waiting for him inside.

Before the driver could start the engine, Allen excitedly blurted out, "Eric, we got a bite!"

Eric casually adjusted the partition separating the front seats from the back, then asked, "When?"

"Just yesterday afternoon, but I only just found out. The person handling communications with Bruce Evans brought back word that Bruce had sold the script for Cutthroat Island. They didn't get the specifics on the price, but the buyer must be Robert Shea."

"Let those guys put on a show for just a bit longer and then pull back," Eric said, relaxing into his seat.

If Robert took possession of the Cutthroat Island script, it might just turn the tide in negotiations for both sides.

Although Robert had left Firefly, he had not relinquished New Line, and with his tenacity, he wouldn't easily exit Hollywood without making another move.

After acquiring the Cutthroat Island script, Robert would surely be eager to produce this project that Eric valued highly to regain his reputation in Tinseltown.

Eric had previously estimated that producing Cutthroat Island would require at least $70 million, with some memories reaching as high as $90 million. Therefore, to make this film, Robert would need to secure a massive sum of money in a short period and would likely be unwilling to drag negotiations with Firefly out for too long.

"Find a way to leak this news," Eric pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Forget it, let's not stir the pot further. For a big-budget film like Cutthroat Island, Robert can't pull it off alone; he'll seek partnerships."

This thought turned Eric's mind to Disney. Given Robert's close ties with Michael Eisner, Disney would undoubtedly be Robert's first choice for collaboration. From the incident with Ghost, Michael would likely make a reasonable offer to lure this project.

...

However, as often happens, Eric's plans faced unexpected turns. While negotiating with Robert, Eric was surprised when Robert himself chose to reveal the news of acquiring Cutthroat Island.

Firefly didn't relinquish its first right to negotiate to Robert's shares; even if Big Seven were envious, they would have to watch from the sidelines. Hearing about the Cutthroat Island project, the Big Seven, after thorough investigation, quickly realized it had the potential to be another Ghost and swooped in like wolves in winter.

Many executives regretted the lost opportunity with Ghost due to their inadequate assessment.

Had they recognized that this was a script destined to earn over $200 million at the North American box office, even a $10 million offer would have been a prudent investment. After all, only one or two films a year might reach that box office figure in North America, indicating proportional overseas earnings and video sales profits that could equate to Big Seven's annual total profits.

...

A black helicopter roared down, landing slowly on the estate's helipad, leaving the paparazzi outside to gawk helplessly at the airborne arrival.

Inside the estate, security personnel quickly gathered at the helipad, some even drawing their firearms, as the helicopter didn't belong to the estate's own team, nor had they received any notice of a visitor.

Elisabeth jumped down from the helicopter with the help of the pilot, straightening her slick cowboy outfit and raising her chin defiantly at the approaching security. "What do you want?"

*****

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