[Chapter 882: It Was Worth It]
Eric knew the girl had her eyes on Boeing's latest model, the Boeing 777-300, which was the company's largest passenger aircraft to date. As he casually wrapped his arm around the girl, who had pounced on him, he picked up the documents in front of him and flipped through them, saying, "How about this? Let's just buy two 747-400s instead. They might be smaller than the 777-300, but with a capacity of 400 passengers and some modifications, it should definitely be enough for a few hundred people to throw an airborne party. Plus, the 747-400 is one of Boeing's most developed aircraft, and as you said, it's pretty safe."
Drew had never had any objections to Eric's decisions, but she was a bit surprised. "Are we really buying two?"
Eric nodded. "Of course! You can't just think about yourself. Kevin and Elia are growing up; they can't always stay in New York. Buying two will make it easier for everyone to use."
The girl pouted and asked, "But Eric, what about you?"
Eric squeezed her waist gently and replied, "You're all mine, too."
"Hehe," the girl giggled, "Even so, you need to have your own plane! Let's buy three; yes, we definitely need three."
"Three is really unnecessary; no one can fly every day. Two will be plenty for everyone. Maybe we can add two smaller private jets for local short flights as well."
Once Eric had decided to purchase private jets, he planned to indulge himself fully this time. In the coming years, whether through profits from Firefly Group or capitalizing on the internet bubble, he expected to bring in a significant amount of cash. Even without those options, selling off some of his stocks from various companies would easily cover the expenses for a few private jets.
Given the growth speed of all the companies within the Firefly system over the past six months, Eric's net worth had likely surpassed hundred billion dollars. With wealth at this level, he certainly didn't need to pinch pennies anymore. After all, spending a few hundred million hadn't made a significant impact on Firefly's further expansion.
However, as Eric spoke, he was reminded of another issue. If he purchased four private jets at once and continued using the method of airline management, the costs would escalate and it wouldn't be very convenient.
While discussing these matters with the girl, Eric instructed the twins to bring over a map.
...
On the other side of Beverly Hills, the Kardashian-Jenner family was in a bit of a frenzy as they prepared to meet Eric Williams at Troutdale Manor.
Robert Kardashian had his reservations about his ex-wife bringing her whole family into his house, but upon hearing that they were invited by Eric Williams, he held his tongue, feeling a bit envious of her unexpected good fortune.
His eldest daughter, Kourtney Kardashian, watched her mother styling her sister's hair and dressing her in the latest Chanel dress. She couldn't help but feel some jealousy, saying sourly, "Why not meet at the Liberty City Manor? Maybe when you get to Troutdale Manor, you'll realize this is all just a joke; Eric Williams wouldn't even look twice at someone like Kim."
Kris Jenner slapped her daughter's hand away as she attempted to meddle. "Shut up, I think I hear Kendall crying; go check on her."
Kourtney pointed to her sister Khloe Kardashian. "You go."
Khloe remained still, glancing back at her stepfather, Bruce Jenner, who smiled wryly and turned to leave the room.
Kourtney, still unwilling to relent, tugged at Kim. "Mom, can't I just go too?"
Kris sprayed some perfume on Kim, sniffed it, nodded in satisfaction, then told her, "No messing around; this is a big deal. However, I'll try to invite Williams. If he agrees, you'll see him soon."
Kourtney rolled her eyes, "Like he'd actually agree."
Kim got up and did a little spin in front of the mirror, catching her sister's eye and said, "Kourt, you can keep talking trash here, but if mom doesn't land the contract, we'll have to head back to New York. Do you want to go back?"
"I don't care; you're the one who wants to stay in L.A., right?"
"Of course, I'm so over those Upper East Hydee girls," Kim adjusted the straps of her long dress and confidently added, "But after this, they'll definitely have to see me differently."
"Hmph, if it weren't for Paris, you wouldn't even have a chance with Eric Williams."
"If it weren't for her being such a nuisance, I wouldn't have gotten kicked out so quickly."
"Alright, enough arguing." Kris glanced at her watch. It would take about twenty minutes to get from Robert Kardashian's house to Troutdale Manor. Although it was just 1:20 PM and their meeting was set for 2:00 PM, she decided to leave early, giving her other children a stern look. "You all stay at home and take care of Kendall and Kylie."
"Got it, Mom," Kourtney and the others replied begrudgingly, casting envious glances as Kris left with Kim and Bruce.
...
Despite leaving early, the three arrived precisely five minutes ahead of schedule at Drew's luxurious home.
After parking the car outside the mansion and giving Kim a final couple of reminders, Kris Jenner rang the doorbell.
Moments later, the door swung open. A Russian woman in a blouse and black trousers, exuding an office worker vibe, looked at Kris and her daughters. "Ms. Jenner, please follow me; master is expecting you."
Upon hearing the specific title in Natasha's address, the three were momentarily stunned. As the woman stepped aside, they quickly understood and rushed inside, following the twin into the villa. Kris couldn't help but glance back at her daughter as they walked behind Natasha, noting her tall figure and pretty face.
Once in the living room, Kris immediately spotted Eric and Drew at a long table in the corner, pointing at something on the surface. Eric noticed their arrival but simply gestured for them to sit on the couch.
The Jenners didn't dare hope for an overly warm welcome from Eric; they settled down on the couch as another identical Russian girl served them coffee. Kris couldn't help but glance at Kim, who felt somewhat inferior in front of Natasha and her sister. With her mom's constant comparisons, Kim felt resentful, thinking, Am I not your daughter too?
...
At the long table, Eric exchanged brief nods with them before turning his focus back to the map. He pointed to areas in Long Island, New York, and the San Fernando Valley in northern Los Angeles. "We can build airports in both these locations and establish a dedicated aviation management company. This way, not only will our planned four planes be able to arrive and depart smoothly on the East and West Coasts, but I'll also contact Chris and Katzenberg; I'm sure they'll be interested in buying private jets. With time, more people in the Firefly system will be able to afford them."
"Hey, if what you say is true, the private jets under Firefly might outnumber those of many airlines. Perhaps we should buy a bigger property now," the girl said excitedly. Eric had described to her the massive growth potential of Firefly's investments, like Yahoo, and she was completely convinced. She pulled her finger away from the U.S. map, pointing to Europe, shaking it near London. "How about we build a private airport in London too?"
Eric shook his head and smiled. "Building one airport on each coast will be enough for now. There's no need to open one in the UK just yet. Alright, let's wrap this up; we have guests waiting."
"Okay."
Drew instructed Natasha to put the map away and walked toward the couch with Eric.
...
The conversation between Eric and the girl hadn't been quiet, and the Jenner family listened attentively, amazed. Over the years, Bruce Jenner had accumulated a few million, but the thought of owning a private plane -- let alone renting one at tens of thousands of dollars per use -- was beyond their grasp. The idea of having private airports was unheard of for them.
However, Kris shifted her gaze back to her daughters, still convinced that the opportunities Eric was presenting were somehow linked to Kim. As she observed Eric walking towards them with Drew, she felt a surge of hope. Drew Barrymore's background was not much better than her daughter's, and if Kim could get involved with Eric Williams, those luxurious experiences with private jets and airports wouldn't be out of reach. If she could indulge in that lifestyle for once, even if it meant sacrificing all her daughters... it would certainly be worth it.
Thoughts swirled in her head until she noticed Eric approaching with a smile, extending his hand to greet her husband. Kris quickly straightened up.
...
"Hello, Mr. Jenner. It's great that you could make it," Eric said, exchanging pleasantries with Bruce.
Bruce was unaware of the invitation Eric had extended to join in the reality show planning, as Kris had advised her daughter not to mention it. Hence, Bruce felt like the supportive figure today, smiling politely as he shook Eric's hand. "Hello, Mr. Williams."
"Just call me Eric," Eric replied with a grin, also shaking Kris's hand and exchanging a few casual remarks before turning toward Kim. "Kim, good to see you again."
"Yeah, Eric," Kim replied, struggling to find the right words to seem more friendly.
After the brief exchange, everyone took their seats again. The twins approached, handing over Kris's reality show proposal to Eric.
As he flipped through the folder, Eric told Kris, "Kris, I've reviewed your proposal, and I agree with your idea to change the title from Hollywood Girls to Beverly Hills Girls."
Kris's reality show proposal hit the nails on the head, capturing the essence of lifestyle reality shows with 'conflict' and 'showiness' -- irresistible elements that grab the audience's attention. Not only that, but Kris also suggested expanding Eric's initial Hollywood-only concept to a Beverly Hills affluent girls' reality show. This would maintain a connection to Hollywood while potentially allowing for similar series in other parts of the U.S.
After reviewing the proposal, Eric was reminded of another famous reality show series he hadn't watched in his past life, including The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Real Housewives of New York City, and The Real Housewives of Miami. While he hadn't seen the series, its success in branching out indicated tremendous potential. The series aligned perfectly for both Lifetime Television and the soon-to-be-acquired E! Entertainment by MGM. If Kris Jenner can successfully make this reality show plan, Eric doesn't mind letting her continue to be in charge of the series.
As soon as Eric finished speaking, Kris eagerly jumped in, "So, Eric, does this mean I got the position?"
Eric nodded. "You could say that, but I still have a few questions."
Kris felt she had momentarily lost her composure and steadied herself. "Of course, please go ahead."
"It's like this," Eric continued. "I'm very satisfied with your production proposal, but you seem to have overlooked one important aspect -- promotional strategies."
In Eric's view, while Kris had grasped the essence of 'conflict' and 'showiness' in lifestyle reality shows, her greatest potential lay in the promotional aspect. In his past life, the Kardashian family could turn a simple stroll into tabloid headlines. This pervasive publicity was the core of Keeping Up with the Kardashians' success, and the mastermind behind all this was the Kardashian family's matriarch, Kris Jenner. Eric now wanted to tap into her promotional capabilities.
*****
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