October 6.
Billy took a glass of wine at breakfast—one of Monica's habits, always starting the day with at least a delicate sip. The routine had settled in, and even while working on Titanic, he never stopped juggling the countless activities he was accustomed to. Now, his days were filled with reading potential scripts, handling business details, and keeping up with the comics, which continued to be produced at such an intense pace that condensing thousands of chapters into a single volume was becoming exhausting.
The mansion in Los Angeles felt somewhat empty. Monica had decided to stay an extra day to spend time with her mother. She was always anxious when it came to family. Billy took a deep breath as he finished his workout routine—his body had grown more rigid, yet still had a few soft spots. He needed to be in top shape if he wanted to perform well for Star Wars: Episode II in March.
Checking his schedule, he didn't find anything new planned for the upcoming year, but he did have a meeting the next morning at six with Steve Parks and the not-so-famous-anymore J.K. Rowling. She had been insistent about speaking with him, but for Billy, the challenge was the complex idea of expanding the universe. A millennium's worth of stories could be spun from the history of Hogwarts, and with Rowling's help, he had once seen endless possibilities to broaden the series. But her ego had held things back. Now, without the same fame or opportunities she once had, she seemed more open to dialogue and acceptance. He could mention that he liked The Chamber of Secrets and propose making comics based on the series. With that license, he could create new stories while she continued writing her own, which was now in its third installment. So far, no money had been deposited, and financial logistics had yet to be put in place.
-What should I make for lunch? - - he mused aloud.
The room was empty except for security. Maybe he could make some pasta with chicken, following Monica's recipe. Perhaps some breaded chicken with cream, a little bacon, cilantro, and corn—though it was a sacrilegious combination only he needed to know about. But he needed protein to regain his strength, and what better way than through a good meal?
He put on some music and started cooking. The housekeeping staff would be arriving the next day to tidy up, and he needed to restock supplies. Luckily, he could order everything through a delivery service that handled grocery shopping for fifty dollars, not a bad deal.
-Great idea,- he said to himself. - I could expand the Van Helsing series. If I refine the fight sequences, I could build an extra storyline, blending elements from Devil May Cry and giving The Divine Comedy a fresh twist. Doesn't matter how the rest plays out. -
It would be fantastic to keep expanding universes, working on extra projects in gaming and animation. When Bleach went on hiatus, he could shift focus to Eyeshield 21, and also resume Hunter x Hunter for its second arc, picking up when Gon wakes up and it's revealed that Killua was disqualified. The manga had stopped at Chapter 41, and he needed to draw another fifty for the second Heavens Arena arc. But with all the ongoing projects, it might not be enough—he could end up adding another twenty chapters, considering each volume contained four to five extra pages.
His phone rang. It was Charlize. She wanted to know which action films she should immerse herself in. Billy realized this wasn't exactly his area of expertise, and that it might be better to start with a more foundational genre—drama, romance, or maybe historical films.
-I'll watch a few movies now that I have time, but I think we should go over our lines for The Devil's Advocate. Still, that won't be enough. You have to feel the art, - Charlize remarked.
-Start with The Godfather, Schindler's List, The Shawshank Redemption, Casablanca (1943), Notorious (1948), Singin' in the Rain (1952), City Lights (1931), Vertigo (1958), and The Graduate. And maybe read some Charles Bukowski... By the way, where's your place? - Billy asked.
-On 54th.-
-I'll send everything to your house, with the promise that you'll watch them. That way, in the next few days, we can have a real conversation about it. I'll add a few more books too. - Billy said.
-Yes, - she whispered, pleased at the idea of receiving gifts.
***
Anne was organizing some packages, taking deep breaths as she thought about the new licensing deal for The Grinch. From her perspective, it was a huge win. The company's financial records were at an all-time high, though there wasn't much money available to spend freely. At least, everything was in good shape.
-Raimon, what's this about expanding the gaming division? - Anne asked, looking at a proposal for a $500,000 investment in a major overhaul of their gaming company—an amount that sounded alarmingly reckless.
-One hundred and twenty thousand will come from the gaming division itself. Plus, I can structure it so that the company remains financially stable. We need to expand our catalog to include Tor Books and upcoming game releases. We'll be the direct distributors of everything we create and offer solid promotions during special events, ensuring a robust collection. In my view, it's the perfect move to grow our market, - Raimon explained, going over the details. - I thought I was clear: this is a major opportunity to scale up our designs, and I've structured it carefully. -
-Alright, show me your numbers,- Anne said, reviewing each aspect of the project. It was ambitious—laying out a five-year plan for doubling profits through regional tournaments and making gaming more competitive.
-We'll roll out half the project first, testing its success in select locations, - Anne decided.
Raimon nodded. With that budget allocated to just one site, he could make it twice as impactful.
It was impressive how something so straightforward could capture fans' attention in so many ways. Lux Toys was already the biggest name in the business.
...