Since the alliance plan was determined in 1993, after nearly three years of close cooperation, with the assistance of Cisco's hardware technical support and Yahoo's platform promotion resources, AOL took the lead in providing users with high-speed ADSL broadband access services than other old telecom operators, and with the civilian tariff and stable network services, AOL has risen to 7.6 million users in the past three years, accounting for nearly 30% of the market share of the Internet access service industry in the United States. The strong expansion momentum has made the traditional telecom operators who have been slow to respond to the situation fall behind.

Therefore, unlike Nokia's relatively low-key listing, AOL's IPO plan has attracted a lot of attention since the day it was announced.

In recent days, in addition to Eric himself, Cisco CEO John Chambers, Yahoo CEO Ian Gnier and other AOL allied executives have also rushed to New York to cheer on the stock launch ceremony.

As a result, Eric was too busy with all kinds of socializing to take care of anything else.

And so on until January 29th.

Since the night before, the NASDAQ stock trading floor has been crowded with company executives, guests, media reporters, stock traders, and other people who participated in the AOL IPO bell ringing ceremony.

AOL issued 15 million new shares, accounting for 10% of the total share capital, at an issue price of $33 per share, and plans to raise $495 million.

However, due to the strong reaction of the market, after six rounds of public inquiry, AOL's opening price soared directly to $42, a 27% increase relative to the issue price, and when the final price was determined, the trading floor was jubilant.

"The opening price was $42, but the issue price was only $33, doesn't this mean that AOL lost money in the process of issuing 15 million shares...... Well, at least $100 million, why not set the price higher? ”

At the party after the IPO ceremony, Cindy Crawford, who came to join in the fun, asked Eric.

Eric let the woman hold him, raised his glass to a Morgan Stanley executive who nodded to him, and explained: "Based on the current stock price, AOL's market capitalization is close to $7 billion, and the difference between this hundred million dollar is relatively insignificant." Offering the stock to investment banks and institutional investors at a lower price of $33 will give them more incentive to operate AOL's listing, and at the same time, the sharp rise in the stock price on the first day can also stimulate shareholders' confidence in AOL and lay a good foundation for the company's further financing in the future, which can not be bought for $100 million. ”

Cindy nodded as if she didn't understand, and said, "Then do you think that if I buy some AOL shares now, will it appreciate in the future?" ”

"Of course you can," Eric nodded, looked at Cindy and smiled: "Your little purse should be very bulging in the past two years, then try to invest in some technology stocks, not limited to AOL, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel or whatever, now throw 10 million into it, maybe you will be a billionaire in a few years." ”

"That's amazing," Cindy blinked, and asked, "So, what if I lose it?" ”

Eric said indifferently: "If you lose, you will lose, you are so capable, you will definitely not be hungry." ”

"Damn man, you suggested that I buy stocks, I don't have any sense of responsibility," Cindy gently pinched Eric's waist, a little resentful, and then hatefully said: "I'll go back and invest all the money in the stocks you said, and if I lose them all, I'll go to Los Angeles to rely on your estate." ”

Eric said: "In this case, should I also share the points if I earn?" ”

Cindy didn't hesitate: "Okay, how much do you want?" ”

Eric said with a serious face: "Half of it, my financial advice is still worth the price." ”

"Hmph," Cindy glared at Eric, remembering something, looked at the crowd around her, and then asked in a low voice with a teasing voice, "I heard you've been looking for a little girl lately?" ”

Hearing this, Eric immediately shook his head and sighed: "It seems that I can't cooperate with your brokerage company in the future, it's not reliable at all, and anything can be said." ”

Although she knew that Eric was joking, Cindy explained, "No, I just went to the company the day before yesterday and saw someone sorting out the information, so I asked John, and he said that you asked him to prepare it." What are you going to do? ”

"I need a few girls in this movie," Eric didn't hide it, and said: "It just so happens that I've picked three, one hasn't been decided yet, and the other two, one is in New York and one is in Milan, and I'll be back tomorrow, do you want to meet them?" ”

Cindy said indifferently, "What do I see them doing?" ”

Eric said, "You're seniors, maybe you can take them." ”

"And let them take my job?"

"You're going to do it for another twenty years?"

Cindy didn't hide her thoughts, and said: "As long as the conditions allow, of course I will, and those who don't work will age faster." ”

……

In New York in February, the temperature in the early morning is at least -5 degrees Celsius, and when you look out at the high-rise mansions at the exit of Sixth Avenue, Central Park presents a bleak scene, although you can still feel the chill of the outside world when you sit indoors with the heating on.

Eric was in Australia in the middle of summer a few days ago, so it's a strange feeling right now.

Cindy, dressed in a close-fitting black sweater and jeans, walked out of the kitchen with breakfast for two, put it on the round table by the floor-to-ceiling window, looked at Eric, who was staring intently at the laptop screen, and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?" ”

"Funny little guy," Eric said with a smile as he turned his laptop around and shoved it in front of Cindy, "Look, it's another leprechaun." ”

Cindy looked at the laptop screen, it was an email, and she subconsciously read it: "Dear Mr. Williams, hello, I'm Miranda Kerr, and I'm honored to have your invitation......"

After a few simple readings, Cindy lost interest, looked at Eric, who had already eaten breakfast opposite, and said, "Nothing special?" ”

Eric took a sip of the hot milk, put down the cup, and said, "You'll talk about it after you finish reading." ”

Cindy shrugged and turned her attention to the on-screen email, an email written by a girl named Miranda Kerr to Eric, in which the girl very appropriately expressed her excitement and gratitude to Eric for inviting her to participate in the movie, and then tactfully offered to get more job opportunities after this cooperation, so as to ensure her education and living expenses after moving to the United States. Having just read the email, Cindy didn't feel anything special, and if it were herself, she would probably say the same.

However, Cindy soon realized something, and looked up and asked Eric, "How old is this, little one?" ”

"Thirteen."

Cindy suddenly laughed, thirteen-year-old can play careful thinking so without dripping, and he is really a little goblin. This girl hopes that after this cooperation, she can get more job opportunities, and then she can be connected to Eric's super powerful network.

"Hehe, if you agree, this little girl will rely on you in the future."

Eric shrugged: "For a man, this should be considered a happy annoyance. ”

"Well, you said yesterday that you were going to see the other two little ones today, is that the same thing?"

"I haven't seen it yet, I won't know until we meet," Eric said, "However, you know my vision, and the people I pick will definitely not be bad." ”

Cindy said, "I'm suddenly a little curious. ”

"I made an appointment at noon, so I invited them to dinner at home, and you can come back then."

"Okay," Cindy nodded.

She was recently working on the second season of "America's Top Model," but filming was in Manhattan, not far from Eric's home.

After breakfast and sending Cindy away, Eric read the email again with interest, thought about it, and replied to Miranda Kerr's request. He was quite curious in his heart, wanting to see what level this little goblin could evolve to in the future.

After running around for these days, and finally having a little leisure, Eric didn't go anywhere all morning, and stayed at home to read the script of "Rush Hour" that had just been revised, although "Red Fan Zone" has not yet been released, "Rush Hour" has been officially established, with a budget of $30 million for the first part, and the new line has signed contracts with the two leading actors, Jack Cheng and Chris Tucker.

The plot of "Rush Hour" is very simple, and the main selling point of the film is actually the performance of the two protagonists full of strong personal styles, which is also the reason why the two protagonists in the original time and space are outrageously paid, and even lead to many delays in the sequel. In order to prevent this situation from happening again, Eric also asked the new line to sign an option contract with the two male protagonists in advance for the trilogy, stipulating the salary standard for the sequel, so as to avoid the company completely losing the initiative in the sequel salary negotiation in the future.

After reading the script and emailing the revisions back to Los Angeles, the time had come to noon.

Eric was too lazy to make his own lunch, and was about to call a nearby restaurant to bring a few lunches when he heard the doorbell ring.

I looked at my watch, it was only half past eleven, and there was still half an hour before the appointment time. Westerners are very concerned about the concept of time, not that the sooner you are, the better, Eric thought that Cindy came back early, turned on the intercom and asked with a smile: "Came back so early?" ”

After hesitating for a moment, a girl with a somewhat hoarse voice asked in a worried voice, "Yes...... Mr. Williams? ”

"Huh?"

"I, we are Gisele Bundchen and Alexandre Ambrosio."

Eric was silent for a moment, then opened the door and said, "Come in." ”

A few minutes later, Eric opened the door and looked helplessly at the two green-faced girls outside the door.

From the list of newcomers sent by several major modeling agencies, Eric only found Gisele Bundchen and Alexandre Ambrosio, and did not have Adriana Lima, another big star of Victoria's Secret in the original time and space, so he only picked these two.

However, he originally asked the two girls and their agent to come over, but now the situation is obvious, the agency must have sent the two girls over and left.

Alas!

Do you really think you're a good person?

Do you really think you're a bad guy?

Eric sighed in a mess, and turned sideways to the two girls and said, "Come in." ”

Like well-behaved and obedient kittens, the two girls quietly and obediently walked into the hallway, looking at the spotless living room, but their steps hesitated.

Eric closed the door and said, "No need to change your shoes." ”

The two girls then stepped into the living room, and after receiving Eric's signal, they sat down on the sofa together.

Eric poured two glasses of juice and handed them to them, looking at the girls again.

Although she has been carefully put on makeup, it is still difficult to hide the greenness on her faces, but both girls already have tall figures, especially Gisele Bundchen, who is about the same height as Eric if you count the high-heeled leather boots on her feet.

It's freezing outside in New York, but the heating in the room is ample enough. Although girls who love beauty will definitely not wear too much, at this time, the two girls who are also wearing short trench coats quickly oozed a faint fine sweat on their foreheads.

Eric pointed to the hanger at the entrance and said, "If it's hot, you can take off your trench coat and hang it there." ”

The two girls nodded together, got up, took off their trench coats, hung them on hangers, and then came back and sat down quietly.

Eric almost burst into tears.

In the original time and space, Gisele Bundchen and Alexandre Ambrosio achieved much more in the fashion industry than Miranda Kerr.

But now, compared to the shrewdness that Miranda Kerr showed in her email in the morning, Eric only felt like he was facing two silly quails.

"Where's your agent?" Eric sat casually on the single sofa next to him, a little disappointed and speechless.

Noticing the disappointment on Eric's face, a moment of apprehension flashed in both women's expressions. Although Giselle and Alexander are looking for newcomers from IMG and Elite respectively, before coming, they received similar instructions from the two agency bosses.

The major international modeling agencies recruit hundreds of new recruits from all over the world every year, and only a handful of them make the difference.

Brazil, where the two girls were born, is the most competitive country in the industry, and Brazil has a very common model training mechanism, and for Brazilian girls, it is the only way to get out of Latin America and become a model. As for many well-known models, they are always accustomed to claiming in their personal resumes that they were accidentally discovered by talent scouts when they were shopping one day, and then rose to prominence, which is basically nonsense.

Take the two girls in front of you as an example, although they didn't know each other before, their life trajectories are similar to most Brazilian girls with modeling dreams, they have been trained professionally since they were about ten years old, and at the age of thirteen or fourteen, they submitted photos to major agencies, or participated in various model selection competitions, and only a small number of them were lucky enough to be signed, and the chances of these few wanting to go to the point of well-known models or even supermodels are even slimmer.

That's why the two girls are so cautious in front of Eric.

They are not time-travelers like Eric who know the future, and it is impossible to know what kind of point they have come in another time and space, at this time, they are just two young girls who have just left Brazil with dreams, and suddenly a great opportunity befalls them, no matter how careful they are, there is no surprise. (To be continued.) )