indiscriminate.

July 5th.

Administrative meetings were intense. Both Billy Carson and Lux Animation focused on different sectors and faced negotiation issues. They didn't realize the true headache caused by the sale of their Hotmail application. Throughout the last few months, the company created with Billy has announced one blow after another. For such a significant amount, the acquisition process requires many protocols, both on the surface and behind the scenes. Billy's ambitious system has a website with design standards suggesting quality and at least one contract. This model is the future standard. But what happens when you're the first to envision this way of seeing things?

He also added functionalities that wouldn't reach screens until 2008-2010, such as archiving attachments, changing fonts, office format for drafting letters, various domains with @ for universities to attach their IPs for staff and students, and channel tracking. Different terms of acceptance were included. Now the latest addition is an online Messenger using the email address, along with data and various ways to verify the user's identity, like a camera photo.

The first message and chat worked perfectly, resulting in the signatures of many entrepreneurs wanting to join the company with great enthusiasm. On July 5, 1995, Bill Gates was seen entering Wall Street. This shark is only looking for one thing: another shark with deep pockets to make room for growth.

They weren't the only ones moving to complete all the procedures. The allure of this revolutionized even the fax companies, who tried to create prerogatives against the fax. However, the strong and clear words of some investors about the withdrawal made it likely that within two years, companies would start creating their emails, and the change was so evident that they had to see the whole picture from afar, just as mail carriers once lost the market to telegraphs and later to fax machines. It was time to forget something else.

All the top tiers were closely watching the development of the Hotmail sale, a milestone that would mark electronic messaging, a step in evolution anticipated over fifty years, all attributed to a business genius in the eyes of entrepreneurs.

Hotmail was what these growing internet companies were looking for. Almost as if their research aimed to acquire this company, the justification was the business model: connecting a website through a service that attracted several bidders greater than the occasional traffic. The terms sheet sent out to resolve everything was brilliant yet welcoming. Hotmail only wanted to continue offering a free service for at least the next five years, arguing that the company's development required adding multiple users.

-It's a brilliant idea, - remarked David Marquardt, a member of Microsoft's board of directors. He has been a partner at the venture capital firm Technology Venture Investors (TVI) since 1981. He has been the link between TVI and Microsoft in many relevant ways for both Microsoft's market and other markets, as seen in the recurring investments in his list of new technology companies.

-I'd like to know if we can count on the necessary support to compete with this company. Billy Carson only wants money; however, we can offer a star collaboration. Our software is one of the best on the market, and our hardware is as advanced as we can make it. If we manage to complete this acquisition, the MSN portal can open up a new range of packaging services we can introduce, like our Windows model. No company will be able to compete this decade, - said Bill Gates with some discomfort, exposing his business so broadly. But as is known, the company's magnitude and growth cannot sustain such a large purchase, and they hope favorable investment from some percentages of the investment firm will help unite these companies without having to fight IBM, AOL, or Napster.

-We understand. From Venture Investors, we view this company favorably, - commented David Marquardt, still resonating with Microsoft's future model. Nothing was certain, but the company's vision was sound, and as a high-risk company, betting has never been a problem.-

***

Money slipped through Billy's hands like water. There was a lot of income, but also many expenses. The company invested in four movies, each exceeding $20 million: "The Iron Giant," "A Bug's Life," "Lilo & Stitch," and "The English Patient," all produced and directed by Lux Animation. Now they planned to add a fifth movie, "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace."

-We'll use the profits from The Iron Giant for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, along with toy series royalties and other variants we have, but we still can't raise the $90 million, - said Anne Hall, reviewing the accounts.

-A loan. Several banks are eager to lend to us. We have the sale of Hotmail, and they know it. Our collateral is enough to get us another $100 million in debt, - said Raimon, dismissing the concern.

-We already owe $70 million! It's not healthy to owe that much. The interest rates are high, even if we negotiate below the average, - Anne countered sharply. They had several leaks, from investments in the children's channel, a documentary channel, and IP purchases. Overall, being part of and shouldering 30% of series like Friends, ER, Kommissar Rex, Marvel series, and others was a constant drain on funds.

They also acquired copyright rights for King Kong, Speed Racer, The Addams Family, The Lord of the Rings, Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Transformers, My Little Pony, and Sentai Rangers.

-Billy will get the money. He'll have to make those deals he usually makes. How did Who Wants to Be a Millionaire go? Any good news? - asked Anne.

Jim shook his head but mentioned some positives. The series Survivor premiered, and despite another headache, ID Software made a $60 million investment to buy multiple game development companies, from Blizzard, Raven Software, and Parallax Software, to expanding ID Software and RPG Software.

-Mr. Carson will arrive in San Jose, - asked Steve Parks.

-He's been in Italy longer than planned, and now he's headed to Los Angeles. He'll be here for the Hotmail sale. With the money we have, we can start production on Star Wars. Billy will secure the remaining $33 million as part of his obligations, - said Anne.

The board members sweated over Anne's almost brutally realistic reprimand of the boss. Anne's importance to Billy must be significant, allowing Billy to be absent from the company for two months.

-Of course, it's no problem for Billy. I usually review his finances, and his credit is good. But we're not counting on the success of A Bug's Life. McDonald's franchise proposed a purchase deal, and it's safe to say we've surpassed $150 million nationally, likely reaching $300 million globally by the end of July, - said Raimon.

-Let everything be agreed, - said Anne.

Billy spent the next five days strolling hand in hand with Monica Bellucci through Europe, mingling with European directors and producers. Many praised his current work at Pixar and anticipated his next movie.

***

-You're more successful than I initially thought, - commented Monica Bellucci in her softly accented English, sitting with Winona and Colin, who hadn't left since their ceremony. The British actor fell for the charms of the '90s angel, attending the Italian cinema gala together.

A grand ballroom, masks, and serpentine glances were the focal points of the gathering, where everyone felt more confident behind their masks and the subdued atmosphere.

-I don't see it that way. My success in this field is modest. I do better in the tech market, - Billy replied softly, engrossed in their conversation. Monica and he had an agreement, to enjoy their love in a marital way, with delicate kisses filled with passion, exploring, and craving their desires without crossing boundaries. The brunette sparked a poetic interplay between them.

-Take me dancing. I want to dance all night, - said Monica.

Billy extended his hand, the June 5 meeting forgotten for the masquerade ball. They danced to their melody. Is it necessary to understand love? Each step, each song marked a different way of seeing things, including the fact that they only played ballroom dances, from waltz to foxtrot, tango, and quickstep. Monica's smile was a radiant sun worth treasuring.

-We should escape and walk along the beach, with a bottle and our arms keeping warm, - said Monica in the early morning, exhausted from dancing, tired of drinking wine and wandering the grand hall, indifferent to everything around her. Her words, like a mantra, sought a focus to help her escape from blind passion and interest.

Billy ran a finger over the Italian's lips, as she tilted her head back, resting it on his chest.

-Let's do it. Free from everything, - Billy said, crossing the balcony and heading to the beach at a certain distance. Monica ran barefoot, wanting to be chased, wanting to smell the sea salt, with the arms and promises of eternal love. It was all she desired, that poetic pride, remembered and lost in poems.

...