Chapter 210: Player or p.a.w.n?
Although Eric kept his focus on Friends, he still continued to take care of his company. On his third day back in Los Angeles, Eric, along with Jeffrey and Robert Shaye, came to the new building chosen as the headquarters of Firefly Films.
"Eric, what do you think about this place?"
After the three got out of the car, Robert Shaye asked while pointing to a seven-story building near the highway.
There are not many high-rise buildings in Los Angeles except for the City Center. Therefore, this seven-story office building with a silver and metallic design located in Burbank was to Eric"s liking. However, after looking around, he pointed to the highway nearby and asked, "Bob, this place close to the highway. Won’t it be noisy?"
"No," Robert Shaye shook his head and said, "I have been inside the building with Jeffrey previously. The sound insulation inside is very good. With the windows closed, the sound of cars outside is m.u.f.fled. Another plus point about this property is that we can also get the approx. 10,000 square feet of land on the north side of this building. In the future, we can build a few more office buildings there if necessary."
Eric looked at the map and asked, "In that case, why didn"t they build an office building a little further away from the highway in the first place?"
"The real estate company that owned this piece of land originally planned to build a small office park here. Unfortunately, after the stock market crash last year, they were left short on cash and could only build this building. So, Eric, if we buy this property, I think it would be a good investment for Firefly."
Eric inwardly nodded. If they bought the property , it would be Firefly"s first major piece of real estate.
Even before his rebirth, real estate had been a very lucrative investment. Even though the North American real estate market had experienced several crashes such as the Subprime mortgage crisis, the overall market had always been climbing.
"How much will it cost to buy the whole thing?"
"20 million," Robert Shaye replied. Seemingly afraid that Eric might find it too expensive, he quickly continued, "Eric, this is a very good price. You can"t find another such property in Burbank with so much land and a highway nearby."
Eric smiled and asked Jeffrey standing beside him, "Jeffrey, what do you think?"
"Bob and I are of the same mind. I also suggest that we buy all of this land. This place is perfectly suitable to be the new headquarters of Firefly. Disney, Warner and Universal are all located within a radius of two miles," Jeffrey answered before he pointed to a hill on the map and said, "Eric, look at that hillside beyond the D sign."
Eric looked down at the gentle slope that Jeffrey pointed at which was likely an extension of Beverly Hills, but he did not see the famous Hollywood sign.
Jeffrey explained, "I heard that the owner of that hillside was the famous Howard Hughes, but I don"t know which real estate company currently owns it."
Eric looked at the hillside yearningly in a daze.
Seeing Eric’s look of yearning, Jeffrey and Robert looked at each other before they both smiled.
Howard Hughes; every man in Hollywood with the slightest of ambition perhaps yearns to become the second Howard Hughes.
After a while, Eric recovered from his daze and said , seemingly having made his decision, "Okay, let"s go in and see."
Robert Shaye followed Eric with a smile on his face. This piece of land was introduced to him by a friend in hopes that he could facilitate the transaction. Although Robert Shaye would not get any direct benefits from the transaction, he would be able to have the real estate company owe him a favor.Of course, no such favor is worth $20 million. After all, Robert Shaye is also a shareholder of Firefly.
In fact, there is no shortage of buyers for the land thanks to its great location. Some may even be willing to pay a higher price, however, few hold enough cash to pay all at once like Firefly. The real estate company was willing to sell for $20 million since it was in urgent need of money to alleviate its financial crisis caused by the housing market crash.
***
The three strolled around and sat down on a bench next to a lawn to rest when Jeffrey asked, "Eric, are you planning to attend the Friends celebration party tonight?"
Robert Shaye also turned his attention to Eric.
Eric shook his head before he nodded. Seeing the confused expressions on the faces of the two older men, he quickly explained with a smile, "I will go. If I delay, Murdoch will definitely sense something."
Jeffrey smiled and replied, "Since you have avoided seeing them over the last few days, Fox is likely very anxious. They must have heard that the three major TV stations are planning to s.n.a.t.c.h the broadcasting rights for remaining episodes of Friends."
Eric looked up at the blue sky of Los Angeles and said in a relaxed voice, "If they remained calm, they wouldn"t have such worries. But, in the current situation, I guess even Rupert Murdoch is unable to remain calm."
"Why is this?" Robert Shaye asked curiously. Jeffrey also looked confused.
Eric explained, "If the three major TV stations do take over Friends, Fox will definitely not sit quietly. Then, a lawsuit will ensue during the course of which Friends won’t air. Such a lawsuit would last at least a year and a half during which time the three major TV stations can slowly suppress Fox TV and its rising momentum. But, if such a lawsuit does happen, we will also suffer since Friends won’t air. When the lawsuit finally ends and the dust settles, who knows whether the three major TV stations will honor the promise they made to us in the beginning."
After hearing this, Robert Shaye suggested, "Then leave the first season alone, but give the broadcast rights of the following seasons to the three major TV stations. I have estimated that with their scale the advertising revenue we can obtain will increase by at least 10%."
Eric turned his head to look at Robert Shaye and said, "Robert, try having a broader view. Even if we get a higher share of the advertising revenue, we will still remain just a p.a.w.n on the chess board. Since we have such a good opportunity, why don’t we try to become the player?"
Robert Shaye was momentarily stunned before he wryly smiled and thought inwardly, "Am I getting old, or is this boy simply that ambitious?"
***
On the coastal road, a purple Lamborghini Diablo quickly drove through the traffic.
Jennifer, who was wearing a white white evening gown, took out her makeup mirror and checked her makeup from time to time.
She looked at herself from all angles and fixed her bangs before she turned to Eric and asked, "Eric, can you check if there is any problem with my makeup?"
Eric held the steering wheel and glanced at her before quickly turning his head back and replied, "Yes, it"s beautiful. But, Jenny, did you choose your dress by yourself?"
"Yep. It"s beautiful, right?" If she wasn’t in a car, Jennifer would definitely stand up and show Eric her dress.
Eric didn’t speak for a few minutes before he said, "Tomorrow, I will call Kapoor and let him find a stylist for you. You are a big star now, so you should learn how to dress yourself."
"Yeah," Jennifer heard the words "big star" from Eric"s mouth and pridefully nodded. However, she wasn’t stupid so she quickly understood his meaning. She hesitantly asked, almost forebodingly, "You mean… there’s a problem with my outfit?"
Eric nodded and gently replied, "There’s no problem per se, but this dress is more suitable for attending an awards ceremony or walking on the red carpet, not parties."
Jennifer looked down and carefully studied her dress, especially the extra long skirt, and immediately pulled Eric"s arm as she said, hysterically, "Uhh... you’re... you’re right. No! Eric, turn around! I have to go back and change!"
"Hey hey, don"t make trouble, I"m driving."
Jennifer quickly retracted her hand, but still said, "Quickly turn around, I need to go back and change. This is the first party I’m attending with you. I don"t want to be laughed at."
Eric tapped his wrist watch and said, "It"s too late to go back now."
"Ugh..." Jennifer buried her little head in her arms before she suddenly looked up at Eric and yelled, "If you noticed that my outfit was wrong from the start, why didn"t you tell me?!"
"I didn’t really notice your dress," he replied.
"Hmph, then what should we do now?"
Eric looked at a nearby sign and said, "There is a way. We’re very close to Virginia"s house. If you want, we can go see if she has any dress that suits you. I have the key to her house."
"No thanks, I would rather become a laughingstock," she replied and turned her head in annoyance.
Eric shrugged helplessly and said, "Forget it then, but be careful not to trip over your skirt at the party."
***
The celebration party for Friends did not take place in a hotel, but in a mansion in Malibu owned by the Murdochs.
After reaching their destination, Eric gave the key to the valet and walked inside with Jennifer.
Upon receiving the news of Eric"s arrival, Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller, who had arrived early, appeared to receive him.
Eric was a little surprised to see Elisabeth, whom he hadn’t seen in a few days, walk out with old Murdoch. Although she had a ladylike smile on her face, Eric could sense a hint of reluctance.