Chapter 378: Chapter 100 Keep Winning

“Think about it, Michael, are you really willing to work with that tyrant? I’m not trying to criticize Eisner, he is indeed a capable and successful businessman, which is undeniable, and Disney wouldn’t be where it is today without him, but he is also someone who takes his own authority very seriously and doesn’t share it with anyone. You left CAA for a better future, but can you see that at Disney?

Yes, we are young, but we have broad prospects! Which company can claim to have grown to such a size in just a few years like we have? Precisely because we are young, we need someone as wise and experienced as you to join us! Unstable foundation? Then let’s make it stable! Insufficient qualifications? Then let’s make them sufficient!

Do you think it’s good enough right now? Where is your ambition? Where is your spirit of adventure? If you think you’re already at the peak, then you’re gravely mistaken! Let me tell you what the peak is, Michael: creating a company, making it successful, and then creating another company to surpass it! That is the achievement a legendary figure should have! You can tell everyone that CAA means nothing, as long as you, Michael Ovitz, are around, there can be countless CAAs!

Of course, surpassing CAA is not an easy task, but besides you, there’s me, I can make anyone famous! When I first entered this circle in the ’90s with just one film company, I was already doing this and I delivered on my promises. Now, I own renowned broadcasting companies like TBS and ABC, is there any reason we can’t do better? The opportunity is right in front of us, why not take a gamble, Michael?”

That was Adrian’s final remark that afternoon, very incendiary and tempting, and with those achievements casting a halo over him, it was very persuasive. Yet, Michael Ovitz did not immediately ‘bow his head’, as he too had experienced significant challenges and was well-versed with client servicing from his early days at CAA, possessing quite an eloquent speech, so he appeared rather indifferent.

However, both Adrian and Claude were aware that the other party was already tempted. To persuade someone, especially a seasoned and successful businessman, it takes more than just eloquence; it takes convincing power, real convincing power, otherwise, no amount of beautiful words could sway them, and they possessed that power. There aren’t many companies capable of creating miracles, like Apple did in its early days or Microsoft did with the surge of Windows 95, but a company like AC Media has managed to obtain such a scale within a few years in the traditional industry for the first time.

Many people know that they had backers and took advantage of the opportunities in ’92 to amass substantial cash, but without capability, they wouldn’t have been able to control such a company, so being tempted was inevitable. Whether he would agree to join was still under consideration; not everyone could foresee the future like Adrian, but Adrian seemed very optimistic.

“He will agree,” Adrian confidently told Claude as they left the golf club.

Years ago, when Adrian was selecting a suitable head for his own agency company, he thought of the former CEO of CAA, Michael immediately due to his prior knowledge of Disney. Over the years, he had collected a lot of information about Ovitz and revived many memories.

In memory, he had only stayed at Disney for 18 months before being ousted by Eisner. Although it’s only been 12 months now, Eisner is facing various challenges within the company due to the unsuccessful acquisition of ABC and is looking to strengthen his power. Ovitz is having a tough time–these pieces of news could not be concealed–so it was likely that he would be ousted in less than six months, which is why Adrian spoke so confidently. After leaving Disney, Ovitz then started another agency, but unfortunately, by then CAA was well-established, and the majority of the market was divided among the top four agencies, and he didn’t achieve much success.

Therefore, this was the perfect timing for poaching, and with Ovitz’s ambitious nature, the likelihood of him agreeing was over 80%. Surpassing the company he had founded was not something just anyone could do; such a temptation was significant.

As long as Michael Ovitz agreed, Adrian had no doubt that they could achieve it. Indeed, CAA was not developed solely by Ovitz, but he was the one among the partners who understood CAA the best. And CAA had become the top-performing agency company in the 21st century, largely by promoting and adhering to the rules they had set.

Ovitz was familiar with these, naturally knew how to implement targeted measures, and with Adrian’s precise insights and the support of his media companies, surpassing CAA was not a wild dream.

In fact, Ovitz did not disappoint Adrian; two months later, Eisner unhesitatingly fired his old friend who he had invited over initially. Ovitz, without hesitation, joined Adrian’s cutting-edge agency company. Then, within seven days, he accomplished his first deal: poaching Tom Hanks.

“Your former CEO is an idiot, having such a persuasive character like you, and he didn’t know how to use you,” Ovitz proudly told Adrian, having secured his CEO position through this achievement.

Adrian simply shrugged; the former CEO was originally picked to be a transitional figure, typically more conservative and less ambitious, naturally not as strategically active as him.

“I’m leaving this to you. Normally, Claude and I won’t interfere with anything. You have a lot of autonomy here, and we’ll help if needed, so I hope you can deliver the corresponding results,” Adrian warned considerably. Ovitz, with his taste for the lavish lifestyle, hadn’t changed at all–no sooner had he become CEO than he started extravagant renovations in his office, just like he did at Disney. If he hadn’t quickly brought over Hanks, it’s hard to say how company staff would view him, considering that his predecessor, though not outstandingly capable, was very popular.

Well, that’s a story for later. In January ’96, apart from poaching Eisner’s corner, there were plenty of other things going on, such as incorporating Victoria’s Secret into the group. For this, Adrian was truly speechless. A media group acquiring a lingerie company seemed a bit far-fetched, didn’t it? Though those large groups were involved in many industries, General Electric, aside from electronics and precision engineering, also owned a broadcasting company like NBC, but lingerie…

Oh well, if Claude really developed Victoria’s Secret as he said and everything went smoothly, the connection between this lingerie brand and the media company would be quite close in a few years. Since he was interested, just let him do it; as for what other companies thought, that wasn’t important.

Adrian was most concerned about preparing for the acquisition of Marvel. Claude had already taken the first step, secretly gathering Marvel’s stocks like how he dealt with TBS. Marvel’s performance was declining, making it the perfect time for an acquisition. However, for the group, having consecutively acquired giants like TBS and ABC over the last few years, it was easy to bite off more than they could chew by now setting their sights on Marvel.

Nevertheless, Adrian was still brimming with confidence. On one hand, he believed in Claude’s capabilities, keeping pace with him over the years, achieving those targets one by one, and keeping the group stable–no ordinary talent could accomplish this; he was much better than this plagiarist. On the other hand, Adrian also believed he could keep winning.

Having inexplicably been reborn with so many advantages and continuously achieving results, why couldn’t he maintain it? Moreover, Adrian wasn’t the type to be arrogant and delusional; he understood exactly how he got everything, so he always remained calm, always viewed things from a high vantage point as an onlooker, always seizing those fleeting opportunities, which enabled him to effortlessly maneuver among women.

And for a company to stabilize amidst rapid progress, there was only one way–keep winning. Like Eisner who turned Disney into his own dictatorship, because he raised its market value tenfold–similarly, a failed acquisition immediately posed continuous challenges for him. Although AC Media wasn’t as broadly share-distributed as Disney, being comparatively less mature could still trigger turbulence if faced with failure.

So acquiring Marvel wasn’t a big problem, as long as Adrian kept winning.

Thus, he was also keeping a close eye on the film industry. In three weeks, “Braveheart” had already made over 50 million in North America with a rising likelihood of crossing 100 million, significantly better than the original performance. The debate in the UK had calmed down for the moment; the so-called Scottish independence bill didn’t even get a chance to be discussed, but thanks to that, international box office numbers were climbing.

But it still wasn’t matching up to “The Rock,” which had garnered 60 million in North America after just three days of release, averaging 30 million per week–a feat many producers envied. No wonder the Weinstein brothers were grinning from ear to ear all day. Michael Bay was thus dubbed the most promising commercial film director by the media, and Brokheimer’s gold medal producer title was clearly within reach, with Cage, one of the lead actors, gaining significant popularity.

As Claude had predicted, New Line CEO Robert Shaye was green with envy, but alas, who scheduled the release date of “Independence Day” for July 3? Since it was called “Independence Day,” how could it not be organized during the holiday from July 3 to July 5? But consolation was found in the fact that “The Rock” once again validated Adrian’s sharp eye, and having already seen the sample reel, Shaye felt somewhat relieved.

However, Adrian still felt it was a pity, as he had wanted to see what it would be like for “The Rock” and “Independence Day” to compete–both were mainstream American commercial films. Not to mention, Rachel looked good in the movie.

Speaking of Rachel, Adrian couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. If she hadn’t already gone to Morocco to shoot “The English Patient,” he would have liked to tease her more. At the beginning of the month–well, it was New Year’s, after all, and he inevitably visited each of his lovers–when he visited Rachel, she actually refused him entry.

“I’m not your… toy! I don’t… want to be your lover! Please… don’t come looking for me anymore!” she had said earnestly, or at least, she tried to appear earnest.

Adrian blinked, then picked her up and carried her to the bedroom amid her struggles and screams. He thoroughly had his way with her on the bed, and even managed to pick a few daisies along the way. The whole process was so painful that Rachel cried out incessantly, but after adjusting, she passionately responded with ceaseless moans, and afterwards, she curled up in his arms like a docile lamb.

He did wonder what got into her, or maybe she just wanted to play that way? Adrian was somewhat puzzled, or perhaps, masochistic women are just so capricious.

If it weren’t for other plans, he would have liked to visit Morocco, as “The English Patient” was a film that needed attention. Interestingly, the other arrangement was also a visit to the set, as “The Mask of Zorro” had already started filming in Texas.

“Go!” Adrian yelled, snapping the reins. The horse, already moving fast, immediately broke into a gallop. The wind whooshed past his ears, and the surrounding bushes swiftly retreated. The kicked-up dust filled the air, giving the scene a rugged look in the winter sunlight.

The woman on the saddle couldn’t help but snuggle closer to him, “Ed, isn’t this a bit fast?”

“Don’t worry, darling, the pace is just right. This is what it feels like to race on horseback,” Adrian laughed heartily. “Didn’t you say you were an excellent rider? Haven’t you ridden this fast before?”

“Not in such a place, and not with someone else,” Catherine Zetajones retorted.

“Well, today seems like a good day for a lesson then,” Adrian said, and with another snap of the reins, the horse picked up even more speed.

Listening to the roaring wind, Zetajones’s face turned slightly pale and her hold on Adrian tightened. Feeling her warm body tense up in his arms, Adrian shrugged and eventually slowed down. The sprint turned into a quick trot, then to a slow jog, and finally into a walk.

“Your riding skills are indeed exquisite, Ed,” Zetajones sighed with relief as she sat up straight in the saddle, her charming, flustered look very alluring.

“Thank you, I’m honored to receive your compliment, Your Highness,” Adrian leaned over and kissed her beautiful face. Zetajones, in her white 17th-century long dress and with her curly brown-black hair cascading down, exuded a sensual, classical temperament, which no doubt prompted his playful tease.

“I’m delighted to have you as my knight,” Zetajones smiled back, rejuvenated.

“Honestly, I prefer galloping across grasslands. Texas is a bit barren for my taste; maybe we could go horseback riding on the ranches in Montana or Canada someday?” Adrian suddenly suggested.

“You seem experienced. Who have you tried this with?” Zetajones asked curiously.

“Yes, I’ve ridden like this with Gwyneth in Canada before,” Adrian did not hide it; because their relationship was different from others, so some topics didn’t need to be avoided.

“Gwyneth? Your fourth Miracle Girl?” Zetajones’s eyes twinkled, though it was unclear what she was thinking.

Adrian chuckled lightly, his hand that was holding the reins moved up from her lower abdomen, slipped inside her clothes without any barriers, and seized her fullness: “You’ll soon be the fifth, Kate.”

Zetajones moaned softly, then with a touch of surprise, asked, “Isn’t Sophie Marceau the fifth?”

“I haven’t crossed any lines with Sophie yet, but it’s getting close, okay, you’re the sixth,” Adrian said as he increased the pressure of his hand.

“So, which one do you think is better?” Zeta Jones’s breathing got a bit rapid, and this kind of comparative topic was something she could never avoid, especially when their dealings had a clear price tag, making such questions burden-free.

“Each has their own features; such comparisons are meaningless, but you indeed have some enchanting aspects,” Adrian said roughly and kissed her blushing lips from behind, prying her teeth apart to explore more.

Tilting her head back, Zeta Jones immediately started to respond passionately. Moreover, she took the initiative to place his other hand on another plump area, occasionally twisting her body, and her buttocks gently pushed back. Their kissing grew more intense and the movements larger, seemingly getting ready to make love right on the horseback.

Just then, Adrian suddenly left Zeta Jones’s lips and stopped moving. Zeta Jones’s beautiful face flushed deeply, her eyes dazed as if she wanted more, continuing like this for several seconds before she came to her senses. Then she gave him a look that was half reproach and half coquettish.

Truly a creature who understands a man’s mind, Adrian praised inwardly. It might seem like he was the one ensnaring her with his kiss, but actually, it was her who had been in control, so although it was somewhat regrettable, he still stopped. This situation was not without reason–Adrian could allow someone like Monica, who was completely submissive to him, to act this way, but the ambitious Zeta Jones was different; it would only lead her to believe she had an opportunity to take advantage.

“All right, let’s go back. We’ve been out for a while, and the crew might start looking for us if it gets any later,” Adrian said and then began to turn the horse around.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Zeta Jones’s eyes, but she didn’t say much.

“Oh, remember to let me know when you’re back in Los Angeles; I’ll introduce you to a manicurist who specializes in finger care,” Adrian suddenly added.

“A manicurist who specializes in finger care?” Zeta Jones frowned slightly, her expression turning somewhat uneasy.

“You are perfect, Kate–your face, your figure, your aura, all enthralling, except for your fingers,” Adrian remarked, lifting her hand, which was a little short and round–the most troublesome part of her.

“I’ve tried many things, but they’re naturally like this,” Zeta Jones sighed, now that her flaw had been pointed out, there was no more need for pretense.

“That might not be the case; the manicurist I’m talking about has cared for Cindy Crawford’s fingers. You know, Cindy was initially just a farm girl from Tennessee, often helping her mother with farming tasks such as peeling corn. But look at her hands now; you can’t see any traces, can you?” Adrian enticed gently.

Oh, they’re definitely great. They’ve gripped and played with what’s below quite a few times, giving the most direct impression.

“Really?” Zeta Jones immediately showed an intrigued look, her gaze at Adrian intensifying.

“Give it a try,” a slight smile appeared on Adrian’s lips, and he thought, don’t think you’re the only one with schemes, dear Ms. Katherine Zeta Jones! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your votes and monthly tickets at StartPoint (wuxiaworld.site). Your support is my greatest motivation.)