They did not want to drag things out; they did not want to give people time to think about the surprise. The goal, shared by everyone, was to build on the excitement already generated by the new Star Wars series, by The Matrix, and perhaps The Lord of the Rings, which had been making an impact for quite some time, for reasons that were easy enough to understand. Some of those reasons were exactly what all of Hollywood had expected, and the news outlets, the press, were waiting for a new Matrix, something different from Harry Potter, which came from a series of stories that were already famous but had not yet truly taken off.
This time they were in the VIP box. Natalie spent the entire evening listening to Billy and the people beside him discussing the purchase of Rolls-Royce, together with Bentley, and their plans to merge with the Volkswagen Group or perhaps Toyota: the idea was to create a decentralized monopoly, and the conversation revolved entirely around business.
Monica grew bored after watching the film. She became completely absorbed in her own thoughts. She found herself overwhelmed by the movement of the companies and had a great deal on her mind. She now saw Billy in a different light.
—I can do anything, as long as I have the determination. But doing it doesn't represent an important gain for me; my time is as important as my thoughts about what I should do over the coming years. —Billy commented.
As he finalized the deal, Carl Guthersen, the majority shareholder of Rolls-Royce, holding a percentage that, combined with another portion, gave him leverage, considered the proposal. The plan was to keep the company under shared control with the eventual objective of acquiring it, while the bidding war with BMW continued. It was, in the end, only a political maneuver.
—Mr. Billy, you may be right... but—
—But we'll serve your interests. With me, you'll make money and become part of my projects, a position of power, prestige, and influence in the automotive world. I don't build companies simply for the sake of building them; creating a company can involve a completely different kind of work. I firmly believe people should fight for ideas, for dreams carried by financial strength to the point where they become unquestionable. Creating desire requires that kind of work. —Billy commented.
They took a deep breath together. Carl did not want to sign with Billy, but the promise was tempting, and he remained silent. The film reached its ending, and the presentation began. The image was different: without the suit and without that commanding presence, he was just a boy. That was the magic of cinema. Monica let out a long yawn and quietly entertained herself.
Natalie's wide eyes listened to that confidence. He simply turned toward her and saw her face; he gave her a small wink as he left the theater. His cell phone rang, and he saw that the meeting with Rowling had already been arranged. All that remained was for them to say yes. The applause only had to begin, and then everything would finally be underway, with such force, so deep and so carefully watched.
…
In a luxurious restaurant, the members of the team enjoyed dinner while Monica, quietly, had been thinking for some time. She finally came to terms with her place in the company, though not before asking for a private moment; something was weighing heavily on her chest. Without any fear, with the piano playing softly in the background, a table for two, and their conversation giving them enough privacy that no one seemed to notice them—though she was aware of the cameras—she finally spoke.
—I don't think I can keep handling so much administrative work. —Monica commented.
She finally let go of the burden she had been carrying for a long time, perhaps ever since she had accepted the position. The paperwork, the responsibilities, and the endless procedures had left her utterly exhausted for an entire month. Trying to combine her two professions had completely drained every ordinary thought she once had.
Billy watched her as he took a sip of water. She shook her head, almost avoiding his gaze. She was nervous because of the words she had finally spoken. Now a grown woman, she still became nervous under his quiet judgment.
—Being an administrator is difficult. —Billy commented. —When my father forced me to become one and enrolled me at Stanford, I made a huge scene.
—I think now the impression is that everyone underestimates me. —Monica commented.
—Is it difficult with your friends? —Billy asked.
—It's very difficult, and it's beyond my control. I don't think I'm capable of managing people; I get nervous, even when I have the advantage. And I don't think I ever close a good deal. So what do I do if I fail because I'm simply not good enough? —Monica commented.
Billy simply squeezed her hand firmly.
—I never expected you to run the company by yourself. I only want you to be the face of the brand, to have a leadership role within the company alongside your friends. I've already hired a clothing executive who fell from grace some time ago. He's a skilled and successful man who wants to prove himself again. Together with the chief operating officer William hired, we probably have exactly the right men to support and grow the company while following my instructions. —Billy commented.
—I only did it because I wanted you to stay by my side. I've always seen how much you like being independent and earning your own money. I admire that, and that's why I'm going to help you. —Billy commented.
Her eyes filled with tears, large and shining. Around them, the restaurant continued as if nothing had happened. Silence settled between them, the privacy of the tables shielding them while everyone else celebrated. That, too, was part of the quality of the work.
—I think... I just... well, thank you. —Monica commented.
—Later tonight, we have to make a quick trip to London. As you know, I still have a role that's moving forward. —Billy commented, giving her a wink. Now that the ideas were in place, he first had to speak with Rowling and organize all the companies in his own way. In his opinion, the flaws and virtues of a book were that it addressed exactly what it was supposed to address, but left open spaces that were later filled without much logic, and that demanded more work.
—Well, I'd like that. —Monica commented.
—Then it's another role. —Billy commented.
—Another one? I thought we were going to make Cleopatra and Grand Hotel. —Monica replied.
—Actually, we are. But we'll also keep developing future projects; perhaps, in time, they'll end up in other people's hands. —Billy commented, already weighing different creative possibilities.
They continued eating in silence. Red wine was served with the red meat, while she drank only flavored water. Meanwhile, the conversations became calmer. The Lucasfilm team was the team of legends, men who had been doing remarkable work for years, and Billy sat among them watching. Monica held his hand tightly as they hoped that, over the coming months, everything would fall into place.