When Eric and Buffett walked out of the study, it was already more than twelve o'clock in the morning, although many guests wanted to wait for Eric and Buffett to reappear to find out the news, but the party was over, and these people had to leave disappointed.

At this time, in addition to the staff of the party company cleaning up the scene, only the main executives of Firefly and the women who don't know where to hide are left in the villa.

Eric and Buffett had just walked down the stairs when Jeffrey and others, who were chatting in the living room, greeted them. Although they wanted to know the result immediately, everyone politely sent Buffett away first.

Waiting for Buffett's car to leave the manor, Eric shrugged at the crowd who immediately showed an inquiring expression: "Buffett has the intention of selling ABC, but we have a big difference on the price. ”

After saying this, everyone did not show any disappointment, and of course they did not feel any excitement about Buffett's intention to sell ABC, which involved a big deal of tens of billions of dollars, and it would be a strange thing if it was negotiated overnight.

Eric ordered the other executives to leave first, leaving only Michael Lynn, Jeffrey, Katzenberg, and Frank Wells, the Big Four of Firefly Pictures, and the five of them came to the living room where everyone was chatting and sat down. ”

Although you and you are the same word in English, the expressions of the other four people instantly became a little ambiguous, and they all knew that Eric's 'you' was referring to you and not you, so even Geoffrey, who was more innocent, couldn't help but envy Eric's Yanfu.

Drew nodded obediently, "Okay." Do you want coffee? I'll let Natasha get it?"

Although tonight many people will be able to notice the figure of the Russian twin shuttling around the villa. But Eric didn't want to invite the two sisters to stimulate the four big men around him at this time, and pointed to the coffee machine in the corner of the living room: "It's so late, don't let them do everything, you can do it yourself." ”

Drew grimaced at Eric, but obediently walked over to the coffee machine and got busy.

Taking advantage of Xiao Nizi's time to make coffee, Eric briefly told the four people around him the results of his conversation with Buffett.

“…… That's roughly it, I also gave the acquisition plan for Firefly, and then. Eric spread his hands: "Nothing has been negotiated. ”

Although he understood that the cash acquisition plan would no longer work, Eric still proposed a wholly-owned acquisition plan that had been drawn up, just like Eric's reaction to Buffett's plan, Buffett rejected it immediately. Although both men knew very well that their respective acquisition plans were not the bottom line for both parties, it was impossible for either to make any concessions after the first informal contact.

To put it simply, the only takeaway for Eric and Warren Buffett tonight is to confirm that both parties are interested in making this deal, so the long tug-of-war may have just begun.

Eric finished. The five people in the living room were all briefly silent, each digesting the information that Eric had just revealed.

Drew made the coffee. He gently placed a few cups of coffee on the coffee table in front of several people, leaned over and kissed Eric on the cheek, and then carefully closed the door and left the living room.

After a while, Katzenberg first said: "Eric, I think the biggest problem is that Buffett doesn't recognize the actual market value of Firefly, which is not surprising, although our profits last year were already on par with Time Warner, but the main profits came from movies and their derivatives, and most people know that the movie business has very ups and downs." But Warren Buffett has always been known for being cautious and conservative when it comes to investing, so his views don't speak for everyone, and I think the first thing we need to do if we want to stay on top of this deal is to stop keeping a low profile and properly show the media that Firefly is capable of. ”

As Katzenberg finished speaking, the other three nodded in agreement, and Frank Wells added, "Eric, I think you're going to have to get to the top of Forbes this year, and you're going to have to be like Sam Walton a few years ago and throw the second place away." ”

The Wal-Mart chain had a market value of more than $40 billion before Sam Walton's death in 1992, and the Walton family owned more than 40% of Wal-Mart's shares, and before 1992, Sam Walton was the only billionaire on the Forbes North American 400 list to accumulate a fortune of more than $10 billion.

After Sam Walton's death, the family's fortune was divided equally among his wife and four children, but the Waltons remained the richest family in North America because they had taken reasonable steps to avoid large inheritance taxes. After the death of Sam Walton, because of Eric's voluntary concession, the personal wealth of Warren Buffett, the 'successor' at the beginning of this year, was only $9.3 billion.

Even without Frank Wells' rhetoric, Eric is well aware that it will be difficult for him to stay out of this position this year and continue to be his 'hidden richest man' at ease.

The numbers on last year's Forbes list can be reasonably prevaricated for some reason, but this year, not only the record-breaking global box office results of "Jurassic Park" have brought greater attention to Firefly Pictures, but also the news of Firefly's acquisition of ABC TV network will definitely need to be disclosed to the public in the near future, and the attention to the transaction between the two sides will also make a large number of investment institutions take the initiative to analyze the strength of Firefly Pictures. The release of another figure similar to last year's will definitely attract countless doubts, and the data that seriously deviates from the facts is a very big blow to the credibility of a professional financial magazine. Eric knew that the benefits he had given him would never allow Steve Forbes to risk the future of the family business.

"Well, I'm not ready yet, but I'll take the time to talk to Steve Forbes about it myself. ”

Jeffrey couldn't understand why Eric could avoid this, and smiled, "Eric, I still think it's a good thing. I can't figure out why you have those messy scruples. Are you afraid that someone else will rob you of your money when you wake up?"

Eric shrugged helplessly. There was no answer, and the other three all laughed.

"Okay, don't tease me, let's get back to business," Eric and the others laughed for a moment and waved their hands.

Michael Lynn then asked, "Eric, did Warren Buffett say he would stay in Los Angeles when he left?"

Eric shook his head and said, "I didn't ask. It's just that it's Thanksgiving soon, and I think Buffett should rush back to Omaha for Thanksgiving, right?"

Katzenberg said: "Buffett's wife Susan has been living in California for the past few years, because Buffett doesn't want his wealth to be divided, although the two are separated, they are not divorced, I heard that the relationship is still very good, I think Buffett should stay in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving." ”

Eric said: "Even if Warren Buffett stays in Los Angeles, you know, I'm going to New York, and I won't necessarily be back before Christmas, so you'll have to contact Buffett next." ”

The fact that Eric already has two children is no secret to anyone here. Jeffrey also personally visited the two little ones on Long Island. So it wasn't a surprise to Eric that he decided to go to New York for Thanksgiving.

Except for Eric, the boss who can be lazy, because of the relationship at the end of the year. Michael Lynn and others are not idle at all, not only do they have to follow up on the important schedule of film distribution at the end of the year, but also need to audit and summarize the finances and personnel of Firefly in the past year, these things have actually started at the beginning of November, but because of Firefly's increasingly large system, it is good that everything can be completed before Christmas.

With these circumstances in mind, Michael Lynn said: "In that case, we will have to wait at least until January next year to make a public offer, and I suggest that we try to push it back to February or March so that we can make more upfront arrangements." ”

It was getting late and late, although Eric and Katzenberg were still in good spirits, but Jeffrey was already tired, although many details had not yet been discussed, and Eric did not intend to let the three old men who were over fifty years old continue to stay up, and finally said: "Then let's do it, you can negotiate with each other on how to carry out high-profile public opinion propaganda, if there is anything you can call or email me," Eric said, stood up and said: " It's getting late, so why don't you stay tonight and I'll take you to the guest room. ”

"No," said Michael Lynn, who didn't want to stay here and be a super-bulb, "I'm in a villa near Pepperdine University, not far from here. ”

Katzenberg pointed to the north and smiled, "Mine is closer, at the foot of the mountain." ”

Frank Wells also smiled: "My family used to live in Malibu. ”

Eric looked at Jeffrey, who hurriedly waved his hand: "I don't think Michael will refuse me to go to his house for a night." ”

"Of course," Michael Lynn smiled and nodded, "I recently bought another batch of good red wines, Jeffrey, Frank, why don't you try them too?"

"Forget it, it's too late today, I'll go when I have time," Katzenberg shook his head.

"I can't, my wife called at eleven o'clock to ask why I wasn't coming home," said Frank Wells, eliciting chuckles and ridicule from several of the people present.

If not compared to Eric, the Big Four are all in the wealthy class, and it is not surprising to buy property in a place like Malibu where the rich are gathered. Eric didn't hold on anymore and sent everyone away one by one and returned to the villa.

The tables and chairs at the party have been removed by the party company, and the empty hall of the villa is quiet, Eric stood in the center of the hall and looked up at the circular corridor on the second floor, looking at the closed doors, inexplicably remembering the famous line in "Forrest Gump", and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but hook up a wicked smile.

Life is like a box of chocolates.

……

When he woke up, Eric found himself lying on the floor, although he was not in the habit of carpeting, the wooden floor was not uncomfortable, and the air-conditioned bedroom was very warm, and it did not feel cold without anything on his body.

Unable to sense the presence of his right arm, Eric squinted and turned his head to see Famick Jensen sleeping comfortably on it, sleeping soundly, presumably because it had been pillow for too long, and had completely stiffened.

Eric looked at the watch that he hadn't taken off last night, and at half past eleven, he couldn't help but smile, he hadn't been so foolish in a long time.

Cautiously stretched out his still movable left hand and groped around, and found a pink pajamas, presumably Xiao Nizi, the women came in evening dresses last night, except for Drew, no one else had their own wardrobe in the villa. Eric folded it with one hand, and because it was a fall/winter model, it was very thick, so he carefully raised his right hand to put the pajamas under Famic Jensen's head.

Maybe it was enough sleep, although Eric was very careful, Farmik Jensen quickly woke up, and when he saw Eric holding a pink dress in his left hand, the girl smiled and reached out to pat it: "Throw it away, you look so obscene." ”

Eric threw his pajamas aside, but Famick Jensen had already leaned over, recalling the events of last night, the girl raised her head, just to see a small hand poking out of the edge of the bed, although I don't know whose it was, Famick Jensen still did not hesitate to bite down on Eric's shoulder, in the man's suppressed cry of pain, the girl quickly let go of her teeth a little unbearably, and whispered: "Eric, you are getting more and more ridiculous, I warn you, don't think about next time." ”

Eric smiled and replied, "Well, I promise, if you're hungry or not, we'll go down and make something to eat, and we won't take them with us." ”

Famick Jensen put his arm around Eric's waist and whispered, "I want you to cook for me yourself." ”

"No problem, you can eat me. ”

"You bastard, I want to eat you. ”

The two of them got up cautiously together, and Famick Jensen walked to the closet, as usual, to find Eric's clothes to wear, and noticed that Eric's eyes looked at the women on the big bed from time to time, and teased with a little jealousy: "Why don't I go down alone, and you stay?"

"No, it's just, it seems like there's one missing?"

Famick Jensen put on one of Eric's jeans, looked at the bed, counted them one by one, and said, "Maybe Nicole is already up, right?"

As soon as the words fell, Nicole's muttering sounded on the other side of the big bed: "It's uncomfortable, damn it, who kicked me down." (To be continued.) )