[Chapter 210: Why Not Play the Player?]
Although most of his thoughts were focused on other things, Eric still didn't let go of his own company and movie projects. On the third day after returning to Los Angeles, Eric, along with Jeffrey and Robert, went to the new location they had picked out for Firefly Films.
"Eric, what do you think of this place?" After stepping out of an SUV, Robert Shea pointed at a seven-story building near the highway.
Eric looked up to examine the structure. The office building had a silver appearance with a metallic feel. Outside of downtown Los Angeles, there weren't many tall buildings, so this seven-story office in Burbank somewhat matched Eric's expectations. After a moment, he pointed to the bustling traffic on the highway behind him and asked, "Robert, will it be too noisy being so close to the highway?"
"No," Robert Shea shook his head. "Jeffrey and I checked every floor before. The soundproofing inside is excellent. If we close the windows, you won't hear any traffic noise from outside at all. Plus, look over there, the land to the north of this building, we could acquire that too. It's about 10,000 square feet. If we need more space in the future, we could build a few more office buildings further inside, so noise won't be an issue."
Looking at the map his assistant handed him, he noted it was rectangular, roughly 400 meters long north to south and less than 300 meters wide east to west.
"Well then, why didn't they build the office further from the highway at the beginning?" Eric asked after surveying the map.
"The real estate company that originally had this land planned to build a small business area here. But sadly, after the stock market crash two years ago, their funding chain broke. They only managed to construct this building before going under. So, Eric, if we take it over now, I think it's a solid investment for Firefly."
Hearing this, Eric felt a spark of interest. Buying this place would mean Firefly would have its first piece of real estate. More importantly, real estate had always been a lucrative investment up. Even though the market had experienced some turmoil, like the subprime mortgage crisis, it still generally trended upward.
"How much would it cost to take the whole thing?" Eric finally asked.
"Twenty million dollars," Robert Shea replied, seemingly worried Eric would find it too expensive. He added, "Eric, this price is definitely acceptable. Look around. You won't find a plot of this size in Burbank. Plus, the transportation is so developed, with the highway right next to it."
Eric smiled and turned to Jeffrey beside him. "What's your opinion, Jeffrey?"
"I agree with Robert. I suggest we acquire this land entirely. It's definitely perfect for Firefly's new headquarters. Robert and I have thoroughly checked everything. Within five kilometers, we have Disney's headquarters, Warner Bros. Studios, Universal Pictures, and several other studios. And there's even a small park nearby," Jeffrey pointed to the hills to the south and added, "Look there, over that hill is the Hollywood sign."
Eric followed Jeffrey's gaze, but he didn't see the famous Hollywood sign due to the hill blocking his view.
"It's probably obstructed by the hillside, but it's right there," Jeffrey explained. "I heard the previous owner of that hill was the famously ambitious Howard Hughes. Now, I'm not sure which real estate company ended up with it."
Eric gazed dreamily at the hillside again.
Seeing Eric somewhat entranced, Jeffrey and Robert stood on either side of him, also gazing at the hill. Howard Hughes, after all, was a man with some ambition in Hollywood; perhaps all aspiring men in the industry dreamed of being the next Howard Hughes.
"All right, let's go for it," Eric finally returned to reality and decisively stated, "Let's go check it out."
Robert Shea looked pleased as he followed Eric. This land had been introduced to him by a friend. While Robert wouldn't make any commissions from the deal, it would earn him a favor from the New York real estate investor. Of course, the price of twenty million dollars was fair, and being a shareholder in Firefly, Robert wouldn't let himself get shortchanged. In fact, this property, boasting such a prime location, would have plenty of buyers, and it might even fetch a higher price. However, no one else could pay off the entire amount upfront like Firefly could, and the seller was urgently in need of cash to resolve a financial crisis.
After the group explored the area, they sat down on a bench by a patch of grass to rest. Jeffrey then asked, "Eric, are you really not planning to attend the celebration dinner tonight?"
Robert Shea looked over with curiosity as well.
Eric shook his head, then nodded. Seeing their puzzled expressions, he quickly added with a smile, "I'll go. If I delay any further, Murdoch is sure to notice something."
Jeffrey chuckled, "Haha, you've been avoiding everyone for a few days. I bet the Fox crew is scared stiff. They probably heard the major networks are looking to snag the upcoming series."
Eric looked up at the clear blue sky of Los Angeles and replied casually, "If they were a bit calmer, they wouldn't be so worried. But given the current situation, I suspect even Rupert Murdoch can't stay composed."
"Why's that?" Robert Shea inquired curiously, while Jeffrey wore a confused expression.
Eric explained, "If the three major networks want to swoop in, Fox definitely wouldn't stand for it, leading to a legal battle. During which, they won't be able to air anything. Such lawsuits usually drag on for a year and a half. The three major networks could use that time to calmly handle Fox and hinder its momentum. But in the end, we would also suffer from not being able to air episodes. When the lawsuit is over and the dust settles, who knows if the major networks will even keep their initial promises to us."
After hearing this, Robert Shea suggested, "Then let's hold off on the first season and give the airing rights to other networks. I had someone estimate it; with the scale of the three major networks, the ad revenue share could be at least increased by over 10%."
Eric turned to Robert Shea and said, "Robert, why don't we look a bit further down the line? Even if we get a higher cut, we will still be playing a pawn position. So since this opportunity is so good, why not strive to be the player instead?"
Robert Shea stared, and then a bitter smile appeared on his face, a thought springing in his mind: Am I getting old, or is this kid's ambition just that grand?
...
On the coastal highway, a purple Lamborghini Gallardo was clearly being moderated in speed as it weaved through traffic. Sitting in the passenger seat, wearing a fitted white gown, Aniston frequently took out a compact mirror to check her makeup.
"Eric, can you help me check if my makeup looks okay?" she asked, adjusting her side-swept bangs before turning to Eric.
Eric glanced at her, and then quickly turned away, "You look great. But, Jenny, did you choose that dress yourself?"
"Yeah, isn't it beautiful?" If they weren't in the car, Aniston would've surely stood up to show off to Eric.
Eric held back for a moment before saying, "I'll call Kepler tomorrow and have him find you a good stylist. You're a big star now; you need to learn how to dress yourself well."
"Uh-huh," Aniston perked up at the mention of being a big star, but she wasn't naive. Quickly catching on, she asked somewhat uncertainly, "Are you saying... my outfit has issues?"
Eric gently nodded and used as soft a tone as possible to respond. "Well, it's not that there's a huge problem. It's just that this gown is more suited for an awards ceremony red carpet than a party."
"Wow... You're right, that might be true. No, Eric, you need to turn around. I have to go back and change," looking down at her sweeping train, Aniston scrambled to pull on Eric's arm.
"Hey, hey, hey, not so fast! I'm driving here."
Aniston quickly retracted her hand and insisted, "Turn around. I've got to change this outfit. This is my first party with you, and I don't want to be laughed at."
Eric checked his watch, "There's no time. If we go back now, we'll definitely be late."
"Ugh..." Aniston pouted, then glared at Eric, "You noticed the problem right away, didn't you? Why didn't you say anything on the way here?"
"I didn't realize right away; I just thought you looked beautiful."
"Hmph, what do we do now?"
Eric looked at the road signs outside and said, "Well, there's a way. We're pretty close to Virginia's villa. If you want, we could go see if she has a suitable gown. I have keys to her place."
"No, I'd rather be laughed at." Aniston immediately turned her head away.
Eric shrugged in defeat, "Then forget it. Just be careful at the party, and don't trip over that gown."
The celebration party didn't take place at any hotel but was hosted in Rupert Murdoch's estate located in Malibu.
As they arrived at the estate, Eric handed the keys to the valet and walked in with Aniston.
Upon learning Eric had arrived, Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller, who had arrived early, both came out to greet him.
To Eric's surprise, he saw Elisabeth, whom he hadn't seen in just a few days, walking in alongside old Murdoch. Although the lady wore a very ladylike smile, Eric could see a hint of reluctance on Elisabeth's face.
*****
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