Chapter 145

The Californian sunshine on the West Coast finally allowed Charles to escape the gloomy weather of New York. Back in Los Angeles, Charles felt rejuvenated.

Megan Fox's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants opened with a $10 million box office in North America and received quite decent reviews.

At night, the bedroom lights in the Malibu beach villa shone brightly. Charles lay on the bed holding the woman, rekindling their passion after a brief separation. Megan Fox had given Charles a fulfilling reunion.

Leaning against Charles' chest, Megan Fox asked with a rosy face, "How did you feel watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants at the theater just now?"

"The movie is quite good, very fitting for the values of teenage girls. The box office won't be skyrocketing, but the reviews are good, and the cost is low. Warner Bros. shouldn't lose money on this!" Charles understood that Megan Fox cared about the movie, but it really didn't have much commercial value.

A story about growing up, one of the rare normal teen films in the U.S.

However, Charles had discovered a beautiful actress in the film, the debutante Blake Lively.

"Do you know Blake Lively well?"

"We're friends," Megan Fox showed a guarded expression, "Why? She's quite pretty, isn't she? Are you thinking of sleeping with her?"

Charles chuckled, thinking how could she speak so straightforwardly? But he definitely couldn't admit that out loud.

"What are you thinking? I feel she might be more suited for some fashion-related projects," Charles definitely couldn't let Gossip Girl slip away.

"Fashion projects? Like your current The Devil Wears Prada," Megan Fox naturally wanted a role in The Devil Wears Prada, but there really wasn't a suitable one, and a cameo was unnecessary.

Charles shook his head, "That's workplace stuff. I think you guys at your age and looks are more suited for school life stories, like the tales of rich kids and their romances in New York's Upper East Side!"

"Oh, a teenage drama," Megan Fox instantly understood, except it would need to be as successful as Mean Girls.

"I've already been studying at an acting school in L.A. for so long, and there's still no suitable role for me?"

"Don't worry. I'll arrange a role for you that can make you famous overnight, but you'll need to wait," Charles felt quite helpless about Hasbro's indecisiveness.

"That teenage drama you mentioned?" Megan Fox showed interest.

"Yeah," Charles was stunned. But Gossip Girl could indeed make someone famous quickly. Even though it was TV, it was better than being a mere side character in a movie.

"I'm very confident about this drama!" Charles continued along with Megan Fox's words. It would also be great to have Blake Lively paired with her, wouldn't it?

However, Charles didn't have time to focus on TV or movies these days; the shareholders' meeting of Marvel was approaching.

Capet Pictures held a significant percentage of Marvel's shares, and ETA had acquired another 17% for Charles!

In Burbank, Los Angeles, in Charles Capet's office at Capet Pictures, Evelyn Capet was gracefully sipping coffee on the sofa.

"Now you own a substantial percentage of Marvel's shares, the position of the second largest shareholder is unshakable. How much money did it cost in total?"

"About 250 million dollars," Charles shrugged, "Marvel's stock price has dropped a bit again!"

"Heh, we've spent a lot of money getting the media to report Marvel's crisis and dilemma. I wonder how Isaac Perlmutter stabilized the remaining shareholders of Marvel," Evelyn Capet chatted casually with her son.

"What are you going to do today?"

Evelyn was inquiring about Charles' plan for the shareholders' meeting at Marvel.

"What am I going to do?" Charles smiled. "Stir up trouble, throw money around!"

Evelyn stood up with a smile, "Let's go. It's time to leave!"

In Beverly Hills, the second floor of the Mercedes-Benz showroom was the headquarters of Marvel.

In the conference room, Charles Capet, Ike Perlmutter, David Maisel, and other Marvel shareholders and executives sat together.

"Charles, you've called a shareholders' meeting. What exactly do you intend to do?" Ike Perlmutter, Chairman and a major shareholder, asked.

Charles waved his hand to Dona, who then distributed a set of documents to each of the shareholders and executives present.

"Marvel's market value has dropped to less than 650 million dollars. Comic and toy sales are down. Except for Spider-Man and X-Men, all licensed movies have flopped both critically and commercially. Marvel needs a change!"

"I know everyone's time is tight, so I'll be brief - I want to buy Marvel and privatize it. I'm sure you all know. So, I'll get straight to the point," Charles stood up and raised four fingers, "850 million dollars, I'm offering to buy your shares at a valuation of 850 million dollars for Marvel!"

Many people gasped. This was almost 50% premium.

"Three days. You only have three days to decide whether to sell," Charles said while glancing at the seated shareholders, finally fixing his gaze on Ike Perlmutter.

"You can choose not to sell, but Marvel's debts will keep rising, and the stock price will keep dropping. Eventually, departments will be cut, and jobs will be lost. When Marvel goes bankrupt again, I hope you'll still have your homes, enough dollars to put your kids through college, and that your wives won't have to pawn their jewelry..."

Ike Perlmutter stared at Charles. The shareholders had united to raise the price, but Charles had drawn a clear bottom line.

"Charles, Marvel still owns the rights to over 5,000 characters. That's a huge fortune..."

"Who? Morbius? Typhoid Mary? Black Widow or War Machine and Black Panther?" Charles slapped the table, "Spider-Man, Thor, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, the Punisher - where are they?

At Sony Columbia, Universal, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate!"

Charles Capet finished and turned to leave the conference room. He paused and said with a smile, "Those who still hold shares in three days, welcome to join me in facing Marvel's continuous losses!"

Of course, Charles's gaze was mainly on the most greedy major shareholder, Ike Perlmutter.

*****

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