hotmail.

May 3.

As time passed, March went by without much notice. The Lion King's victory over the Disney movie at the Golden Globes managed to create a silent triumph at Lux Animation. The small competition was enough to show some dignity, much like the victory for best soundtrack at both awards. Its overwhelming future at the awards was undeniable to Anne.

She used the rest of her time to work on creating comics and pitching different ideas. Some of these ideas started to take shape more intelligently, such as the series Survivor, which was picked up and rebranded by some writers who quickly developed a script. Beyond that, Lux Animation began to extend its reach into children's animation and adult animation, drawing the industry's attention. It was a rare tactic since very few people invested in television so opportunely.

Starting with an animated program, the competition was minimal, and many channels had yet to become competitive. In the '90s, some were toying with the idea of animation, while others believed the market was too expensive for creating series. Now, people take Lux Animation's success seriously. Even major companies approached Warner to inquire about issues with Lux Animation, whose rise was meteoric. Steven Spielberg watched from afar with delight.

-It's something big,- Anthony Dallas said, hyperventilating. The offer for the Hotmail application had arrived—$50 million for an idea conceived less than five days ago. It was the opposite of what they had anticipated; the idea was genius, but they didn't understand the strength behind it.

It's pretty big. It's insane. Billy mentioned the idea would sell, but I didn't think people would be offering to buy the company within two months. It's crazy,- Terry said.

-Come on, it's just the beginning. We need to keep improving the system and soon launch a new organization,- Anthony Dallas added.

-It's so much money, it amazes me,- Terry said.

-I want to wrap this up as soon as possible. I posted on the notice board that we would solve all issues by May. We're not done yet, and launching it in Europe complicates my potential June vacation,- Anthony said.

-If we sell the company, we'll get a commission. I already dream of buying that new Porsche convertible, a great car, in emerald green, shining like a firefly on the highways of Los Angeles—the dream of every man,- Terry said.

The offer went public, triggering alarms in many companies within days.

***

-It's ridiculous to consider selling for $50 million,- Billy said to Anne, who was sipping a cup of green tea. Without wasting time, they both reviewed the offer. It was a quick game.

-It's likely we'll receive new offers in the coming months. I might have mentioned we wanted to sell the company at a good price, but it's still not there yet,- Anne said.

They were having a small private meeting. The tech company requested the email application and the website, which started to communicate with various companies, both academic and legal, as well as administrative.

Slowly, the email service between companies, equipped with a series of tools that enhanced business operations, attachments, page design, and organizational features, gained strength due to its free and secure service. Its originality in presentation and soft palettes stood out as few companies invested in such fine design.

-Next comes the aggressive marketing campaign. We need to attract everyday clients,- Billy said.

-We have some time, but the fact that it's free is a guarantee in itself. That's where we find the selling price for our platform,- Anne said, following Billy's plans step by step. It was a good offer, which began to be broken down into an attractive sales plan. The money earned from offering the email service was used to advertise, and provide free email to universities, and the delivery format was designed to reach a larger audience.

-So we have this giant sales app, with an audience of at least 5 million people. This service will be well-received in cities and other states, making communication easier everywhere. In a few months, the $50 million will double or triple, - Billy said.

-It's untrue. The situation is even bigger than you think. We're expecting double the number of people and at least a traffic of thousands per day, - Anne commented, smiling at the fact that even Billy underestimated her idea and calculations, tripling their performance expectations.

I doubt it will be tough. Not many people have internet access, and accessing the service is quite challenging for these kinds of activities, - Billy remarked.

-We've already crunched the numbers. Thankfully, the idea of cooperation can open the gates to thousands of students, teachers, and office workers, and we're even targeting Wall Street, - Anne commented.

-You guys are quite bold, - Billy said, totally surprised.

-From Microsoft, they congratulate us on the game we delivered and say they're on board with creating a gaming company together, - Anne commented, taking another note. Billy had been lost for two weeks in a Spartan schedule of drawing and meetings with George Lucas, as they were still working on the script for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, with full force.

-What did they say? - Billy inquired.

-Specifically... -

-Yes? -

-They took the opportunity to point out that Nintendo hasn't released a console and doesn't seem worth following for a dull market. But they mentioned they would open a small branch if you're interested in exploring that, - Anne said.

-I don't care. Let's wait for the new consoles. I've already fulfilled my obligations to PlayStation. Let's create a small company when we have the money on our own, and I'll make suggestions for bigwigs to join us. Once you have gold in your hands, everyone wants to grab a piece, - Billy said.

Taking a pen in hand, Billy's office remained alive and vibrant with various awards, along with a diverse library of graphic novels, comics, and other things that would widen children's eyes. Not far away, the entrance door opened, Erwin pointed to the clock as Anne handed him a five-page report, summarizing the progress.

-I'll be in your office later, - Billy said, waiting for Anne to leave.

Leaving the office, it was noon and marked the important meeting. Paul Allen was there, one of the pioneers of Microsoft, dressed formally in a yellow cashmere sweater and a vibrant blue shirt, leaning towards white, giving him a colorful yet elegant look, unlike Bill Gates, who preferred suits and formality in his attire.

The meeting room only accommodated four people.

-Thank you for seeing us so promptly, -Paul Allen said.

-We're partners; we must consider it. I'm also interested in the gaming company, - Billy said, subtly stroking Microsoft's ego. They desired anything but starting a gaming company, but with another company, the situation wouldn't be as profitable. It wasn't about Microsoft; it was about its leaders who had a strong belief in the market's potential and could see how it could develop.

-Ah, gaming. Let's hope that the much-lauded console goes into production. For now, the promise is more than enough for us, - Paul Allen commented.

-In that case, it doesn't matter, - Billy said, adopting an indifferent posture.

-Recently, we saw your new email system. You've done a wonderful job. Knowing you're a man of firm points, we wish to have a stake in the email, Hotmail, - Paul Allen said.

-We're not giving out stakes. In a few months, Hotmail, which you created, will be in most companies, universities, and academic communities. Then it will move on to office workers and personal use, - Billy said.

Paul Allen sighed, always so astute, highlighting the good things about his companies to create a policy of profit and triumph over people. It was a fantasy that made one think the value of companies exceeded the current value of any company.

-Yes, yes, but you must know that in our company, an alliance is most recommended. We have many channels that would ensure the growth of our company. From MSN, we can bundle the internet. A stake on both sides is most necessary, - Paul Allen said.

Recently, Microsoft had been in a silent war with Napster, and some people had become aware of the dishonorable behavior the company exhibited—copying models from other companies or buying them. The aggressive acquisition of at least nine companies in recent years was just a glimpse into how capitalism works at its maximum expression.

-We'll consider reaching a constructive agreement, - Paul Allen said.

-That's true, but I have faith in my company's plan, - Billy said.

-You're not willing to negotiate. We can take this as a strain on relations. Even the gaming plan can be considered, - Paul Allen said.

-Sir, in ten years, gaming will be such a profitable market that it will tell people you always thought about the future of gaming. Long ago, you saw that the gaming business was growing. If you just satisfy the idea of acquiring Hotmail, it's a bad idea, - Billy commented.

-You're mistaken. -

-How much money my company is worth, $350 million, - Billy said.

...