While the two were talking softly, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang. The girl graciously took the phone and put it next to Eric's ear, and she also lay down on Eric's body.
Eric put his arms around the girl's waist, and pressed the call button with the other hand, and Jeffrey's concerned voice sounded from the other end of the phone: "Eric, are you okay now?"
"I'm fine. I'm just watching the fun. How's the company going?" Eric glanced at the news that was still playing on the TV.
However, the tone was a bit reluctant, and he was not the kind of person with a strong determination. How could he not feel it when he was attacked on such a large scale? If he hadn't left a little bargaining chip in advance, Eric didn't know what he would do now Come.
"The company's situation is fairly stable, but today a few less important employees resigned, probably because they couldn't stand the pressure of public opinion, and I didn't keep them. Also, Robert tested me in the afternoon. Although he didn't say it clearly, he just said The meaning in it seems to be asking me to persuade you."
"I guess he has been hinted by some people. Leave him alone and do what you have to do."
"I understand. I'm just telling you about this matter. Also, when are you going to fight back? You can't let things go on like this, right?" ♀,
Eric paused, and then said: "It's not the time yet, by the way, how about the money?"
Hearing this question, Jeffrey's tone became a little heavy, and said: "It's all procrastinating. I went to Columbia and Fox personally, but I didn't see any person in charge. I asked Edward, and he said this kind of If the matter goes to court, although we will definitely win, it will take several months. As for the loan, Caroline contacted several banks. Originally, Citibank had already been moved and agreed to give us a loan of 50 million US dollars, but immediately Disney and Fox issued a lawyer's letter together, saying that there was a problem with our contract, preventing Citibank from lending us a loan, and this matter fell through again."
"What do you think they are doing this for?" Eric thought to himself. asked a question.
Jeffrey on the other end of the phone said: "I think it may be related to taxation, but if this kind of problem really arises by then, I think the IRS will definitely allow us to delay the payment for a company like Firefly that is in good condition. tax."
Eric thought of what Jeffrey could think of, so he knew what was going to happen next. It must be about the money, and. It is estimated that there will be a lot of money, otherwise, several major companies will not try their best to prevent Firefly from obtaining funds.
"Jeffrey, don't think about the two sums of money for the time being. You try to let Caroline try to get a loan. If domestic banks don't work, then try foreign ones. Since Citibank is willing to let go, I think there will definitely be Other banks are willing to lend to us."
"I see. In fact, Eric, Caroline told me that there is another way to get a loan, which is to mortgage your Firefly shares, so that other companies definitely have no reason to stop it."
Eric denied it without thinking about it: "Jeffrey, there is no room for negotiation on this matter. Our opponent is now doing everything possible to obtain the shares of Firefly. Can you guarantee that I can get it back after I mortgage it?" ?"
"I mean, if it's just a small percentage, like ten percent."
"No, Jeffrey, don't talk about this matter again." Eric continued: "By the way, since they have all shot, we can't be indifferent, and put "Who Will Be a Millionaire" and "X-Files" I will stop all the productions of "Friends", and the other party will release the news," Eric paused at this point, and then said with some disappointment: ""Friends" may... There will be no second season."
Jeffrey on the opposite side was silent for a moment when he heard Eric say this, and then said: "Eric, how about I go to talk to Janet, she is probably just impulsive, now she must be able to understand your situation of."
Eric sighed, and when John Aniston called himself a few days ago to scold him and warned him not to get close to his daughter, Eric said in a dejected way: "No need. "
Jeffrey on the other side of the phone shook his head and said, "Okay, that's right, Eric, don't watch TV all day, and don't read newspapers anymore. You know, those are all fake. Let's find some Do other things, like write a script or something?"
Eric thought about it, and said, "Why don't you help me find a band?"
"Band, what are you doing with that?"
"I felt it and wanted to make a song."
Jeffrey knew that Eric knew some movie soundtracks, and had also seen episodes composed by Eric himself. He had no doubts, nodded and said, "Well, what type of band do you want?"
Eric said: "Rock band, industrial heavy metal, find me the best."
"Um... okay."
After a few more words, the two hung up the phone. Eric pushed away the little girl who had been lying on his body and listening, turned off the TV, explained a few words, and then went into his study.
The next day, Jeffrey found the best rock band in Los Angeles for Eric, and sent it to the Malibu estate together with a whole truckload of music production equipment. The paparazzi who appeared with Eric could occasionally hear the faint sound of rock music coming from the manor.
The turmoil has been fermenting for a week, and Eric still has not made any response, but the matter does not show signs of dissipating. Some protesters holding banners appeared outside the Malibu manor and beside the Firefly office building, demanding that Eric announce that from now on Quit the ranks of directors and no longer 'scourge' Hollywood.
And some media who want to maintain impartiality occasionally publish a few more rational analysis articles on this turmoil, but they are all buried by this one-sided public opinion carnival. After all, a famous genius director who is also a billionaire The rich man stepped into the dust, which is very in line with the dark desires of many people.
A new week began, and the turmoil began to escalate. Eric woke up in the morning, and before he had time to eat breakfast, he received four summonses from the Los Angeles District Court in one go.
Drew Barrymore's father, John Barrymore Jr., jumped out and submitted a series of evidence, accusing his ex-wife Addico Gide of being indifferent to his daughter, and even allowing his underage daughter to be raised by Eric Williams The private pet, while suing to regain custody of Drew, also sued Eric for violating his underage daughter.
A clerk in charge of real estate management of the Los Angeles County government voluntarily reported that Eric Williams used illegal means such as bribery when he acquired the 14-acre public land in the sharp corner of Malibu.
A little-known screenwriter in Hollywood, Randy Clapp, sued Eric Williams for allegedly plagiarizing the script of a police film "Battle of Light and Darkness" written by him five years ago. Rick Williams claims $200 million.
The newly established Sony Pictures also came to join in the fun and sued Eric for alleged fraud in the "Dark War" contract signed with Columbia Pictures. Eric's share exceeded the normal commercial contract, and Sony Pictures asked to re-investigate the contract. Signed 'Insider'.
As soon as the news that Eric suffered four lawsuits at the same time came out, not only in North America, but all the media in the western world focused on Eric. At the same time, many people also realize that things are far from being as simple as they imagined. However, even so, most people just followed the development of the matter with a spectator mentality.
In the Malibu Pointe Villa, Eric and the private lawyer Edward Lewis who had just arrived were discussing the four lawsuits before them.
"Eric, this matter is getting more and more troublesome, and you must have seen it. There must be a lot of support behind these lawsuits. Therefore, to be honest, I can't promise you at all now that I can Win all four of these lawsuits, because since they were able to recruit so many people, future judges, juries, and other factors will be difficult to control, after all, you are now on the extremely weak side."
Eric listened quietly to Edward's analysis, and waited for the private lawyer to finish speaking before saying, "Edward, you just do your best."
"That's for sure," Edward nodded, and continued: "Among the four lawsuits, the lawsuit about the plagiarism of "Dark War" is the easiest. I have asked people to find the original story written by the screenwriter. The story of "Dark War" is indeed somewhat similar to "Dark War", but it is only a little similar in the general story. It is also a contest between a policeman and a criminal, but the differences in the details of the story are very different.
The other thing is Sony's lawsuit. I personally led the signing of the contract with Columbia, and I guarantee that there will be no problems. As for the other two things…”
Edward looked up at Eric and said, "When I bought the land in Malibu for you, I did use some untimely means. However, all the money used in the process was cash, and it was impossible to leave evidence. And , even if it can be confirmed in the end, I won't let it implicate you in this matter, just insist that you don't know."
Eric could hear that Edward wanted to take the matter on himself, and nodded gratefully: "Thank you, Edward, by the way, you don't have to worry too much about the last lawsuit."
"Are you sure?" Edward glanced at Eric and said, "I just wanted to say that this lawsuit is the most dangerous, because if you are not careful, you may lose."
Eric shook his head confidently: "Don't worry, I will never lose."
Edward didn't quite know the specific relationship between Eric and Xiao Nizi, but seeing Eric's words so firmly, he still nodded. (To be continued..)