His arrival in the United States became the media's top priority, a collective frenzy of thousands of paparazzi desperate to get a story. Billy was met with a barrage of flashes—relentless, aggressive, completely out of control. He could almost sense in each of them a kind of ironic determination to unsettle everyone standing within reach.
-Billy, is this the beginning of a new project? Rumor has it there's a secret production.- –
-Billy, have you ended your relationship with Monica Bellucci?––
-Is it fair to say you're in a new romance?- –
-Are you the screenwriter for Lux Nation's new film?- –
-Is it true that your hair is being sold online?- –
He completely ignored the crowd in front of him as they all scribbled furiously, noting down his every move. Billy moved through the mass of reporters, and even when his car pulled away, some continued to follow at a distance. It was maddening. They endured a long drive to his apartment complex in San Jose. The first order of business was to get the company's affairs in order—an unyielding principle that guided him. The ongoing plan to acquire land in San Jose was still very much alive.
-Good morning, sir,- greeted a woman in her early fifties wearing a black dress that fell to her knees. Standing beside her was a butler. Together, they oversaw the maintenance and management of Billy's private and residential properties—from his duplex in the Meet district of San Jose, to a hotel floor reserved solely for maintaining order in his personal life and for his occasional getaways, as well as a two-story house he had purchased long ago and now kept as a singular personal investment.
Time passed, or rather, it slipped by in measurable portions. Billy enjoyed a hearty dinner—the best—starting with a good soup and a chicken-and-egg salad, followed by a chocolate dessert.
He expected that the next day he'd have to pitch in at his father's BBQ at their private home, while trying to evade the paparazzi. At least he knew he'd be somewhat safe in the quiet of the residential neighborhoods.
He stretched as he unpacked his bags, knowing he had a demanding task ahead—reorganizing all his ideas and jotting down the notes for each chapter. For now, the comics were selling at a slow but steady pace—nothing surprising, nothing out of the ordinary, except for Eyeshield 21. The rest barely met the minimum standard Anne required to consider a book successful. Sales appeal, after all, was the simplest way to judge a publication.
…
The halls of Lux Animation were a spectacle in themselves—a living, bustling factory surrounded at the back by two buildings. Directly in front lay a charming food court, encircled by parks, and farther on, a construction site where a new building was rising. This would become the headquarters for his virtual library project, integrated with another company—a budding social network platform that Billy was already planning. It would later grow into a far larger enterprise with far more advanced technical development.
-You didn't have to wait for me at the entrance,- Billy said.
-It was necessary,- Anne sighed. -I don't want to see you wandering around the animators' floor. Right now, I just need you to focus on the only thing that matters—the annual financial report. We have a massive debt, but it's manageable as long as we keep up with the payments.-
-In fact, I don't have that opportunity right now,- Billy replied.
-I think you will in two days—once we've cleared up all those things you pushed through without the proper protocol,- Anne answered.
In the months ahead, they undertook considerable work, capitalizing on every opportunity. For example, they implemented reforms at the parent company. A new division, Lux Motors, became the flagship company, overseeing two subsidiaries—Lotus and Lamborghini. Though largely nominal, Lux Motors consisted of just five people managing inquiries, innovations, and fiscal oversight—modest in budget but carrying vast responsibilities as primary advisors.
The second division in motion was Lux Films, now structured to handle two distinct branches: Lux Films Productions and Lux Films. Each had separate procedures—one dealing primarily with intellectual property rights, the other with full production and hiring—dividing responsibilities between two specialized entities.
Billy had also expanded the Marvel brand into four separate companies, each with its own value and focus. The result was often slow, sometimes disjointed, but it reflected the sheer scope and effort required to manage such a vast enterprise.
-I can say it with absolute certainty,- Anne remarked, visibly more relaxed. -Come to my office. I have everything prepared. The briefing won't be heavy—no needless effort. I've got a few people who've given us a near-procedural guide on what we need to do.-
-Then we'll proceed with what we have in mind,- Billy replied, continuing on his way, almost savoring the numbers as he moved with small, restless steps.
-We have a perfect balance,- Billy said, surveying everything that consumed his attention—the order, the way each element functioned. It was, and would remain, mildly stressful for anyone scrutinizing it under a different lens, but it all rested on discipline.
-Sales are down, and we're building a small warehouse to organize and store the surplus. It's not much—just a modest expansion,- Anne said.
-It may not seem like much. It may even appear to be a failure. But sales have two lives—one for the present and one for the future. Eventually, people will come back to buy. We'll sell the past, driven by new stories,- Billy replied.
His eyes rested on a document—an offer from William D. Rockefeller, a business proposal. The old man was deeply involved in Apple's ongoing operations—recruitment, new resources, and technical support systems.
-Do you know William Dommer?- Billy asked.
Anne grew tense.
-Yes, I do. He's been here for a review and helped us navigate the paperwork and fiscal policies for entering New York,- Anne replied, meeting Billy's gaze. His expression hardened as shadows seemed to gather in his thoughts. What could this man possibly want so intensely as to push Billy to the edge?
...