"Eric, I haven't seen you in a while, you've been so beautiful lately, I've heard your name every day in San Francisco," Larry Ellison greeted him as he walked into the agreed restaurant on Venice Beach, hugging Eric warmly. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Eric let go of Larry Ellison, who had a scruffy beard, and said with a smile: "You are also very beautiful, I heard that you have raised a large amount of money recently, what are you going to do?"

"Hey, Eric," Larry Ellison said eagerly as he led Eric to a seat, "You must have heard some kind of gossip, you see, you just called, I didn't come from San Francisco right away." ”

"If I hadn't called, you'd have been going to see me after you bought the apples, right?" said Eric sarcastically, taking the menu from the waiter's hand and looking down.

"Misunderstanding, this must be a misunderstanding," Larry Ellison immediately denied, "I have to take care of the company during this time, and at the same time I have to fly around the east and west coasts, so I will be a little negligent on your side." ”

Eric ordered dinner, closed the menu, looked up at Larry Ellison, and smiled, "If you're really busy, it's understandable, I heard that Oracle has been in a tough competition with Informix lately, did they remove that billboard they set up outside the Oracle building?"

In Eric's original memory, Oracle was basically in a state of dominance.

But now, Oracle is far from Microsoft's dominance of the desktop operating system, and in North America alone, there are two database software companies of Oracle's size, Informix and Sybase. Among them, Sybase also operates a server business in addition to database software, and Informix is focused on the database software market like Oracle, so the competition between the two sides is extremely fierce, and Infomix even bought a billboard outside the Oracle headquarters building, which reads "There are dinosaurs crawling here", Eric doesn't know what this meme is, but it definitely won't be a good thing to say.

Recently, seeing that the funds raised were enough to buy Apple, Larry Ellison did have the idea of leaving Firefly aside and buying Apple separately.

In addition to the instigation of his friend Jobs, he also understands that if Firefly is involved, even if the other party only has 10% of the shares in it, the right to speak will not be lower than that of him, the initiator of the acquisition, and if he can get rid of Firefly, the control of Apple will definitely fall into the hands of him and Jobs after the acquisition is completed.

However, as Eric's voice fell, Larry Ellison immediately felt a little hairy.

Of course, he wouldn't be stupid enough to think that Eric was just making fun of him when he brought up the Informix billboard.

Firefly Investment's subsidiary, whether it's Yahoo, AOL, or the recently rising Amazon, is a super big customer that any database software company needs to strive for, not to mention that Yahoo also controls a Yahoo technology alliance under its hands, and has vaguely become a rule-maker on the Internet, and this influence should not be underestimated.

Eric deliberately brought up Informix, and the warning couldn't have been more obvious. Now is the most critical moment for the competition between Oracle and Informix, and if all the Internet companies in the Firefly system fall to Informix, the situation of the two database companies that are evenly matched will be broken immediately.

Some of the attributes of database software companies and operating system software companies are actually similar, if the two sides open up the gap and are affected by the Matthew effect, the advantage of the leading side will only become more and more obvious, and the fate of the laggards will be known by looking at the current situation of Apple Computer Company.

Larry Ellison is a very arrogant man, and the whole of Silicon Valley knows that. But he is definitely not the kind of person who will show his arrogant personality in front of anyone, otherwise Oracle would not have grown to the current size.

At this time, in front of this young man, he just lost all his arrogant capital, and even had a sense of powerlessness that his fate was pinched in the hands of the other party. Raising his hand and touching his forehead, Larry Ellison didn't dare to be perfunctory, and said seriously: "Eric, well, this is indeed what I did wrong." However, now that the acquisition negotiations have just begun, I promise that everything will not be hidden from Firefly Investment, and if you are not at ease, you can send someone to join the negotiation team. ”

Eric listened to Larry Ellison's softness, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Larry, I've said before that I'm not interested in buying Apple. I just thought Steve Jobs was a fun guy, and that's why I got involved in it. After the acquisition is completed, I will not interfere in the management of Apple, just as if it is an ordinary equity investment. But if you dare to fool me, I wouldn't mind smashing this rotten apple on your oracle. ”

"Eric, don't worry, this will never happen again," Larry Ellison felt that there was something wrong with the grammar of Eric's last sentence, but he didn't point it out, but realized that Eric didn't mean to hold on to it, so he grinned and agreed.

Eric glanced at the guy and suddenly realized that the two guys had something in common to be friends with Jobs, and that was that they were both bastards.

Suddenly some thoughts occurred in his heart, and Eric said, "Larry, you don't think this matter is just over, do you?"

"Ah, this, Eric, what else do you want to do?" Larry Ellison, who had already relaxed, became vigilant again.

Eric didn't bother to talk nonsense with this guy, and said, "So, do you know the "Iron Man" that Firefly has been preparing recently?"

Larry Ellison was stunned for a moment, realized what he understood, and said excitedly: "Eric, you want me to play Tony Stark, no problem, absolutely no problem, I also think I am quite suitable, well, we can discuss the salary." ”

Eric glanced left and right, but he couldn't find a suitable guy to knock on the hairy face opposite, so he had to say angrily: "Tony Stark doesn't, Tony Stark's driver you can't do it." ”

"Don't, Eric, even if I play the villain, the driver will lose face," Larry Ellison said as if someone had suddenly gone crazy and bargained.

"Alright, then the driver, I'll have someone inform you of the shooting schedule," Eric tapped on the table, making a decision.

Larry Ellison thought that Eric was about to say something that caught him off guard, but when he heard that it was just a cameo in a movie, he had no scruples, nodded in agreement, and deliberately gaged a few sentences.

It's just that Eric obviously didn't finish speaking, and continued: "However, that's not what I just said, "Iron Man" is a science fiction movie, which is very suitable for technology companies to implant, so Oracle is also involved, and the implantation cost is even $5 million." ”

Larry Ellison immediately made a bitter face again, Oracle's annual advertising and marketing budget is less than 100 million US dollars, and 5 million is smashed on a movie, which is a big number: "Eric, you are simply blackmailing, is it okay to be cheaper, how about 500,000?"

"Yahoo plans to build a large data center on the east and west coasts and in Europe next year, and I would consider giving Informix the database software order for these projects. ”

"3 million, Eric, you know, what decision I, the CEO, makes, still has to be approved by the board of directors, 3 million is the limit I can promise. ”

"Amazon will go public at the end of the year, and there will definitely be a need to expand the infrastructure at that time. As an e-commerce company, database software ......"

Larry Ellison slapped the table to interrupt Eric's half-talk, with a crisp face: "5 million, deal." ”

"Oh, and also, even if you get paid $1 for a cameo as a driver for Tony Stark, Hollywood doesn't allow people to work for free, but you have to sign a three-film contract first. ”

Larry Ellison grimaced and nodded, "Okay!"

Eric nodded in satisfaction and added, "Also, you have this meal." ”

Unceremoniously knocked Larry Ellison on the penalty, which was a punishment for the guy who wanted to play himself, and after dinner, he wanted to go back to Sharp Corner Manor, but the girl called and said that several characters in "Fast and Furious" had been settled, and Eric asked the driver to drive to Beverly Hills.

Arriving at the mansion of the Lady of Strausdale Manor, Eric discovers that Gwyneth Paltrow is also here.

The girl took Eric's arm, sat down on the sofa, and said, "Eric, Kate is very interested in the role of Dominic's sister Mia, what do you think?"

In the original version, the role of the younger sister of the male protagonist of "Fast and Furious" was played by Jordana Brewster, and Eric remembered that the Latino girl's appearance when she was young could be described as perfect, but I don't know why, the short "shelf life" of the hair, after the age of 20, it doesn't seem to look very good.

The thought crossed his mind, and Eric looked at Gwyneth Paltrow. Due to the change in Hollywood history, even if "Shakespeare in Love" has not yet been filmed, it is definitely not so easy for Gwyneth Paltrow to become another actress. However, after all, she is the second generation of Hollywood, and Mia, a character that seems a little inconsequential at first glance, Eric is curious why she is interested.

"Gwynnie, I think you must have read the script, Mia's character is just a vase, but there is not much room to play, it just makes you more familiar in front of the audience. ”

Gwyneth Paltrow looked at Drew greasy beside Eric, envious in his heart, but his expression was a little resentful, and said, "I also want a role that is more suitable for me, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find it?"

After saying this, Gwyneth Paltrow looked at Eric with a look of hope, in the past two years, she has almost participated in three or four movies every year, and the frequency of her appearances is enough to make those bottomless Hollywood newcomers jealous to the point of madness, but the family's connections are unlikely to help her get any heavyweight blockbuster roles, and none of these films have caused any repercussions.

Last year, I finally collaborated with Miramax on a novel adaptation of the movie "Emma", and I originally wanted to try the Oscar strategy, but in the end I didn't even get a Golden Globe nomination. So, at the suggestion of her agent, Gwyneth Paltrow plans to change her strategy and increase her chances of appearing in big-budget movies, so that she can also increase her popularity as soon as possible.

It just so happened that MGM was planning to launch the "Fast and Furious" series, and considering that it was written by Eric himself, Gwyneth Paltrow offered to Drew this time to try one of the roles. Prior to this, although the two had been ostensibly close to each other, Gwyneth Paltrow had not used the Drew relationship in the film. Living in Hollywood, she also understands that human affection is something that can be used once or twice, but it won't work if it is too much. Even if it is a family connection, at most, it can only help her get the heroine of some low-budget solo movies, and if she wants to be on the throne, she still has to rely on her works to speak after all.

Eric says that there is not much room for Mia's character, and Gwyneth Paltrow understands.

But Eric also underestimated the sensation caused by the movie he personally wrote in Hollywood, this is an extension of the Agent Cinematic Universe, with the current influence of the Spy Cinematic Universe in Hollywood, even if it is a vase role under this series, it is enough to cause many first-line actresses to compete.

Eric looked at Gwyneth Paltrow's eyes with hope, and his expression was even more like he would pounce as long as he said a word, and smiled, compared to ordinary actors struggling in Hollywood, she already has resources that no one can match, Eric will not be moved by her small pitiful expression, and said: "This needs an opportunity, you are only as big as Drew, there is no need to worry, maybe you will meet the right role soon, well, if you are interested in the role of Mia, you can also try." ”

Gwyneth Paltrow was disappointed and wanted to refute Eric's slip of the tongue, she was actually several years older than Drew, and was already 25 years old this year. But looking at the girl's delicate face, she must have said this kind of thing well.

Drew grinned and blinked, but he didn't correct the mistake in Eric's words, and said, "By the way, Eric, I've already found the two actors you mentioned, well, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, right?" I looked at it with Amy, and Paul Walker was okay, but the guy named Vin Diesel was just wood. ”

After Drew finished speaking, he said something to the twins watching TV in the living room, and Natasha quickly took a file and handed it to Eric.

Seeing Eric open it, the girl said, "There is also an audition tape, do you want to watch it?"

Eric flipped through the profile and looked at Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, both of whom had been in Hollywood for several years and were not newcomers. In order to avoid the trouble of casting, Eric simply asked the girl to find these two people directly: "Let's watch the audition video tomorrow, but the movie chooses actors, never the best acting skills, the most important thing is to be suitable, otherwise Robert De Niro and Merrill Streep will become the most sought-after stars in Hollywood." (To be continued.) )