King of Hollywood

Chapter 14 Mire

"Thank you, Mr. Ryan, your explanation is very good. I am very grateful that you can spare time to browse with me at work." Penelope said to the middle-aged man beside him while walking.

"It's okay, Miss Penelope, this is Mr. Adrian's order, and it will not affect the work." Ryan Ferguson of M Records smiled slightly, and then casually glanced at her tall breasts.

Under Penelope's silk coat was a low-cut and thin-shouldered dress. The pair of plump breasts that could not be lost to any woman squeezed out a deep ditch. As long as it was a man, it was inevitable to take a few peeks. However, Ferguson quickly averted his eyes, and continued to show Penelope around the company in a serious manner. Although the woman in front of him was charming and sexy, she was his boss's woman.

"Maybe you want to go to the studio, we have one of the best recording facilities in the country," Ryan said.

"Now? Can it?" Penelope was a little surprised, "Shouldn't Ed be there to supervise the recording now?"

"No, I don't need it today. I don't have any songs to record recently." Ryan smiled and waved his hands, but the frown and depression at that moment fell into Penelope's eyes. Little tricks have not been missed.

After wandering around the recording room, and picking out a few good Spanish songs to record and sing in person, Penelope finally concluded her visit here.

"I have to say, thank you very much, Ryan, you are such a careful man." She praised him like this.

"Thank you. I'm very careful when I'm working. I can't do it outside of work. Every time I go to Las Vegas, I lose a lot of money." Ryan sighed, and the depressed look flashed again Pass.

He looked at the time, and then said in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, Penelope, I'm going to the office, and I have a meeting to attend later."

"It's okay, I'll go back to the lounge by myself, and Ed will probably finish the matter soon." Penelope said empathetically.

Back in the lounge, Adrian hadn't come yet, the Spanish girl picked up a magazine and read it. However, although her face was facing the open magazine, her eyes were wandering from time to time, and she didn't know what she was thinking. Finally, she stood up, walked to the water dispenser, poured a glass of water and downed it in one go, then took a long breath, closed her eyes and frowned with anxiety on her face.

At this time, there was a sound at the door, and Adrian's voice followed: "Sorry, Pepe, I was delayed for a while."

"It doesn't matter." Penelope turned around immediately, and the abnormal expressions on her face just now disappeared instantly, only the same charming and sexy as usual, and her acting skills are really quite good.

"It's just for a while," she said with a smile, "Mr. Lane took me around, browsed most of the places, and recorded a few songs, but unfortunately, I can't sing very well .”

"Ryan is indeed very good, and he can be a tour guide after retirement," Adrian said jokingly, and then beckoned to her, "Let's go, the things here have been dealt with, let's go shopping on the street, and then have supper."

There is nothing serious about the record company. Avril Lavigne's training is as good as ever, and she is as comfortable with all kinds of guitars as I remember. It's not that Adrian didn't suggest that she practice other instruments more, and she did practice some, but she was still not as good as the guitar.

"This is the best instrument! This will be the instrument that will accompany me for the rest of my life!" Avril Lavigne finally waving the guitar shouted. people support.

In this regard, Adrian can only shrug his shoulders. Anyway, he has prepared two songs for her. If it is impossible, he should release one first. Of course, it is not the time to tell her.

As for the company's reorganization, it is also proceeding in an orderly manner. When the acquisition of Universal Music was announced, Ferguson, Norton and others started to work on this aspect. He didn't come here just to ask. The most important thing is Britney and Christina. The contest between the two has almost become public, whether it is within the company or in front of the public.

The most typical example is that after Spears was signed by Pepsi at the beginning of the year with a record-breaking endorsement fee of 8 million (note), Christina immediately agreed to the invitation of Coca-Cola. Although the endorsement fee was not as high as Britney, it was enough You can see the clues from it. What's more, the two of them usually talked to each other in a few innocuous terms in front of the media, which made the entertainment reporters a lot of money, so that when they interviewed one, they had to ask about the other.

That's right, Britney and Christina didn't deal with it very early in the beginning. From training to releasing records, there was a lot of competition. Now that they have finally become famous, how can they not find a way to suppress each other? Finally, unlike "before", the two of them are now in the same record company, no matter how much they satirize each other, there is a limit, even if they express their dissatisfaction in front of reporters, they always maintain the "we are in a benign competition" line.

Of course, this is all due to Adrian. The relationship between Britney and Christina was planned by him alone. In front of them, the two of them will stop. However, once it was just him and the three of them, the two girls would compete more fiercely in some ways.

"Ed, how about going to a nightclub together, there is a new one in Xilin District, the environment is very good, and no one knows us." When Christina was talking, she knelt on the sofa and held Adrian's arm.

"Lord... Ed, why don't we go to the movies, I think... I want to see your film "The Beautiful Legend of Sicily", the critics said it was very good." Britney straddled his On the thigh, the whole body almost fell on him, but she stuttered a bit. She was completely used to the title "Master", but she couldn't use this title in the presence of other people, so her speech would inevitably be a little sluggish.

The two exchanged glances from time to time while talking, splashing non-existent currents in the air. However, Britney always subconsciously showed a superior attitude. After all, she was the only one who called Adrian "Master". Christina also hated her attitude the most, but she didn't know how to compare her, so she had to further please Adrian.

Adrian is basically impartial to them. Of course, he never expresses his opinion easily. It is a pleasure to see them scrambling to express themselves. As for comfort, just talk in private.

If there is any regret, it is Britney's $8 million Pepsi endorsement fee. Because of his intervention, the 18 million sales of the first album plus the 22 million sales of the second album made Pepsi an extra 1 million. Endorsement fee - because this figure once exceeded the cost of MJ's endorsement for Pepsi, so Adrian remembers it very clearly.

However, if Pepsi invites another year later, they will have to pay even 10 million. Adrian has a big plan to give Britney this year as a reward for a small pet, so it is a pity.

In addition, there is a small windfall. Jessica Simpson "ran into" Adrian and made love to him.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, Mr. Adrian." After "recognizing" Adrian, she said very enthusiastically.

After becoming famous last year by singing the theme song of "Pokemon" theatrical version, Jessica Simpson released her first album at the end of the year. Sales exceeded double hundred gold, which is also a very good result for a female singer. Naturally, Simpson had no choice but to want to go to the next level, and naturally, Adrian became her goal.

Although Britney and Christina competed very fiercely, they would still keep a certain distance from Adrian in front of many people, and only a few high-level officials knew about their specific relationship with him. But because of Adrian's famous name, many people are guessing, and Britney and Christina can't ignore him like passers-by even if they keep a distance from him. A conclusion can be drawn after a little analysis.

Even if it can't be said, private circulation in the company is indispensable, not to mention that the most popular songs of the two popular idol female singers have Adrian intervening. It is not surprising that Simpson wants to be appreciated by him.

If it weren't for Penelope waiting for him, Adrian would definitely chat with her for tens of minutes, make her happy, and then take her out for dinner. Britney and Christina don't care. other side. But now I can only say a few simple words, it doesn't matter, Adrian gave a little hint in the language, let Simpson think for himself, and as long as she is still here, she will obediently open her arms for him. leg.

Adrian quickly returned to Kansas to continue the specific shooting of "Winter's Bone". Natalie's state was slightly ups and downs, but it didn't affect the shooting too much, and the progress was still very smooth. Then, before the start of the 72nd Academy Awards, he got bad news from Crowder.

"Sony Records publicly issued an acquisition offer to M Records?" Adrian, who hurried back from Kansas immediately after receiving the news, came to Crowder's office and asked again to confirm.

"Yes, their goal is our record company. It's an excellent strategy, isn't it?" Claude didn't panic, but his brows inevitably frowned, "First block our acquisition, and then use the method of raising the stock price to Lock up our liquidity, hide behind Disney and Warner to secretly gather shares in M ​​Records, and wait for the right opportunity to counterattack in one fell swoop. If you win the record company, you will also win the copyright of the record, and there are not only them want."

"The Sony Group acquiesced in their actions, but only by acquiescing, so my exploration in Japan was unsuccessful, but Sony America and Sony Pictures have support, otherwise they would not be able to talk about Disney, Warner, and News Corporation." Adri What An thought was another matter.

"News Corporation can ignore it. They are largely just spectators who are waving their flags to see if there is an opportunity to take advantage of. Unfortunately, Warner is dragged down by AOL. If they were the ones who made the offer instead of Disney, we might need more I don’t know what Redstone is planning, and they have been bystanders before.” Claude shrugged.

"They will know soon. They could watch on the sidelines before, but now that this happened, they have to make a statement. I still think Redstone will make the right choice." Adrian said shaking his head.

"But we have to show enough strength first." Claude spread his hands, "The only good news now is that they underestimated the funds in our hands, and they were correct in covering up the benefits of the IT bubble burst. And That is, how would Disney and Warner react if they knew they were being treated as a stepping stone by Sony."

"Someone on the record company's board of directors has been persuaded, otherwise Sony won't be able to gain control." Adrian thought for a while and said, "Who would it be?"

"It takes time, we don't have much time," Claude looked at him, "and don't you think it's a little strange, Ed? Their actions are a little too specific, sometimes as if they already know what we will do what."

"Are you sure?" Adrian couldn't help raising his eyebrows, he knew what Claude was talking about.

"It's not too serious, but it can't be underestimated, and I've already had someone conduct an internal investigation." Claude made a gesture, "There is indeed such a guy, but he can't touch things that are too high, so for the time being Didn't move."

"Anyone else? And more than one..." Adrian rubbed his chin, "This is a little troublesome, what if you can't find it in a short time?"

"The safest way is to increase the investment, which is the key to determine the success of the acquisition, but in this way, our next strategy must be adjusted, unless you are willing to raise more financing." Crowder analyzed "I can add 0.5% more."

"2%, no more, unless it takes another two years." Adrian shook his head, "Let's do it for now, the most urgent thing is to talk to the directors of M Records."

Unexpectedly, the directors of m records unanimously expressed their support for the media, and the art director Eric Norton even called Adrian immediately after Sony issued the acquisition invitation, expressing excitedly that he would advance and retreat with the company. This is not a good thing. Judging from the current situation, someone must be wooed, otherwise Sony's acquisition is just an investment. If not everyone is wooed, then the other party is very smart and hides himself among the directors. It is not easy to find out in time.

The consolation is that, as the two popular super idol girl singers of the record company, Britney and Christina both chose to support them without reservation, which shows that Adrian has trained them very well.

"Who do you think it could be, Charlie?" Adrian, who was sitting in a high-back chair with his legs crossed on the desk, stared out the window, and said to his female secretary. He didn't hide these things at all. .

"You should ask Martin Mortimer for this kind of question, not me." Charlize, who put the documents in front of him in order, shrugged.

"It's already been handed over to Martin to check, but it will take at least two or three weeks. Sony records are very tight, and we don't have much time." Derian stood up, put his arms around her waist from behind, and put his arms around the nape of her neck. Taking a deep breath, "You are unparalleled in intelligence, meticulous and cautious, Charlie, maybe you can see something that I or Claude overlooked."

"You really want to know my opinion?" Charlize stopped what she was doing, and then slapped his hand off her soft hand, watching him ask.

"Of course." Adrian also raised the lower hand on her buttocks to show his attitude.

"Wait for me." Charlize left such a sentence and walked out. When she came in again, she had an extra document in her hand.

"This is?" Adrian glanced at her in surprise after taking it.

"Your itinerary for the month and a half." Charlize said.

Adrian frowned slightly, lowered his head and continued to look, which took him more than ten minutes, then closed his eyes and thought for a while before opening his mouth again: "No wonder I have a strange feeling, indeed Suspicion, but... well, it is actually very simple to confirm."

Sony Records made a high-profile announcement of the acquisition of M Records, especially when the media was acquiring Universal Music, which immediately aroused great repercussions in the industry and attracted a lot of attention. What is surprising is that in this contest, Sony Records pressed forward and did not give the media a chance, while the media kept retreating while holding on to Universal Music, looking at a loss.

"I'm very sincere and very confident. I don't think it's a bad thing, does it?" During the second negotiation, Thomas Mottola of Sony Records expressed a little satisfaction to Adrian and Ke Lauder said.

Joseph Waddell, who was in charge of M Records, was sitting next to him. He was obviously one of the directors who sold his shares to Sony, and he believed that Mottola had promised him a lot of benefits.

"Don't worry, Mr. Mottola, until the last minute of the game, no one knows who the winner will be." After the fruitless negotiations, Adrian said this to Mottola when he left.

"Of course, but I'm sure it will be me," Mottola replied.

"Not only Joseph, but also others. The shares in Joseph's hands are not enough for Sony to gain an absolute advantage." In the caravan returning, Claude said this to Adrian.

"Mottola's assistant, the Japanese, Sam Tanaka, he looked to our left twice during the whole process, maybe he was among them?" Adrian recalled.

Neither of them said anything about Waddell's betrayal. This kind of thing is too normal. For a person like him, it's too normal to fall to whoever bids the most.

"Ivan Molina, Ryan Ferguson, Eric Norton... At least one person can be trusted." Claude said suddenly.

"Yes," Adrian nodded, and then laughed, "And, since it's confirmed, why not..."

Although the media is currently in a small quagmire, it does not affect the operation of some things, such as the 72nd Academy Awards.