1594-1596

*Chapter 1594: Additional Conditions*

"Reasonable? Are you sure?"

Amy was instantly amused by Edgar's words.

Indeed, purely from the numbers, a base salary plus profit sharing suddenly seemed reasonable. But note, "reasonable" here came with conditions, because what was considered reasonable was calculated based on the box office performance of the first two "Spider-Man" films. 20% of the box office revenue would be truly outrageous in that context.

However, here one needed to calculate the risk. No one could guarantee that the third film in the series would be equally successful at the box office. At this point, a straightforward box office percentage seemed much more reasonable. It could not only lower costs and share the risks but also ensure Anson's 100% commitment and a collaboration free of past grudges.

Everything was just as Edgar said—

It was clear that Edgar had thought through every angle, inside and out.

And he had even prepared a fallback plan. Even if negotiations broke down and Anson couldn't continue in the third film, Anson wouldn't face any risk.

Firstly, moviegoers and audiences would collectively target Sony Columbia. After the casting change uproar last summer, no one would believe anything Sony Columbia said now.

Secondly, Anson's collaboration with Warner Bros. had fully begun. Sony Columbia might give up on Anson, but the number of projects in Hollywood craving Anson was countless.

Every move was meticulously planned.

Only now did Amy truly realize that Rome wasn't built in a day; Anson might have started planning this a very, very long time ago.

Of course, Amy understood this principle, but it wasn't until this moment that the reality of it truly hit her, making her deeply aware of Anson's audacity and boldness.

It's normal for actors to fight for higher pay, but someone like Anson who plans everything step-by-step, cautiously advancing, and manages to push a giant like Sony Columbia to the brink, and does it without the combined strength of an agency – this was the first time this had happened in Hollywood.

Perhaps, Anson's ambition went far beyond this.

Amy had a premonition that ending the partnership swiftly and decisively at this moment was the wise thing to do. Sony Columbia should say goodbye to Anson and start fresh.

Otherwise, even Sony Columbia might end up being sold out by Anson, or perhaps they would try to use Anson to make money but ultimately end up making money for Anson instead.

The alarm bells were fully ringing.

If it were for the benefit of Sony Columbia, perhaps cutting off a limb to save the body was the wisest choice.

But was this calmness, or cowardice?

Sony Columbia being afraid of a single-handed Anson... wouldn't they become a Hollywood joke?

For a moment, a flurry of thoughts surged in her mind, and Amy was briefly distracted.

Edgar had no way of knowing Amy's thoughts. At least outwardly, Amy remained calm and focused, so Edgar continued as planned.

"Of course, 'reasonable,' that's the word. I believe I am fighting for a reasonable position for Anson."

Confident, candid.

And firm.

This was Edgar's assurance, the confidence that allowed him not to yield an inch even when facing Sony Columbia.

Amy... couldn't refute it.

After a brief moment of confusion, Amy regained her composure. After all, having held a high position for many years, her caliber and self-possession were evident; she wasn't going to panic.

Amy didn't directly respond to Edgar but countered with a question. "So, if you had a choice, where would you lean?"

This was a test, a way to probe his stance.

However, surprisingly, Edgar was exceptionally open, speaking unhurriedly, "As for me personally? 20% of the box office."

The answer was thrown out directly.

No hiding, no beating around the bush. Edgar seemed remarkably candid, which instead exposed Amy's own cautious calculations.

"This doesn't just include the profit sharing for the actor and producer roles, but it also guarantees Anson shares in the risks of the production. Anson is willing to wholeheartedly commit to the production of the third film."

"He's more than just an actor."

Saying this, Edgar pointed to his head, the subtext being that Anson's intelligence was an invisible, priceless treasure.

"You should know, that's a sincere number. At least, if Michael were here, he should agree."

Michael Linton?

Amy remembered Edgar's "slap in the face" from the morning – a base salary of twenty million dollars plus 15% of the box office revenue. It was frankly outrageous, and that number had indeed thrown Sony Columbia's upper management into chaos.

Even without seeing Michael's expression, she could picture the scene of confusion.

Edgar's next words pulled Amy's thoughts back.

"Of course, we can express even more sincerity, showing Anson's stance – he sincerely hopes to bring the Peter Parker trilogy to a perfect conclusion."

"If necessary, we can explicitly state in the terms, in black and white, that Amy Pascal must be the producer for us to agree to the cooperation."

Amy: Thump.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably, almost bursting.

If Anson made such a demand, it would mean the nearly two-year-long struggle for the CEO position at Sony Columbia could immediately come to an end.

Within the production itself, Amy was just a nominal producer. The real significance lay in Edgar expressing Anson's desire to work with Amy, which would be enough for the board. This piece of leverage could completely tip the scales in the tug-of-war between Amy and Michael, instantly reversing Amy's predicament.

In other words, Anson would vouch for Amy, and the price would be Amy convincing the board to accept the 20% box office profit sharing agreement?

Amy's mouth felt dry.

One second before, Amy was considering refusing Anson, thinking for Sony Columbia's sake.

The next second, the temptation laid out before her, like a devil's whisper, made Amy lose her composure.

Her heart couldn't help but waver.

The truth was, "Man works for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him." Furthermore, the board had promoted Michael Linton to constrain Amy, and even planned to kick her out entirely. Sony Columbia had acted unethically first, so she shouldn't be blamed for selfishly choosing injustice at this moment.

However, it wasn't that simple.

Amy had served as Sony Columbia's CEO for many years, personally leading the company to its current position. She had genuine feelings for the company. Although personal development was very important, she also sincerely hoped the company could climb to the top and reach its peak in the fierce competition of Hollywood.

It was precisely because of this that Amy always looked down on the selfish and blinded Michael. Disaster often arose when personal interests outweighed those of the company.

And now, was she about to follow in Michael's footsteps?

That craving, that urgency, was truly too strong, so much so that Amy couldn't control herself. The intense fluctuation of her emotions continued to pound in her chest.

Amy also realized she had lost her composure. She looked up at Edgar, showing a wry smile, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She realized again how well-prepared Edgar and Anson were; not just Michael, but she herself had walked into the hunter's trap.

Who could have imagined that Sony Columbia, holding such a massive advantage and firmly controlling the overall situation, would end up in such a difficult predicament?

So, how exactly did they get here, step by step?

"Edgar, that's a checkmate move, isn't it?" Amy said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

***

*Chapter 1595: Working Together for a Win-Win*

"Edgar, that's a checkmate," Amy said, watching Edgar, half-serious, half-joking.

Edgar gently shook his head. "No, it's not a checkmate; it's working together for a win-win. Amy, imagine, the ones who achieve a win-win in the end won't just be you and me."

Amy, "You mean, including Sony Columbia?"

Edgar, "Of course. I believe you know better than anyone that if you continue to cooperate on the third film in the series, you'll gain more than just box office revenue. Anson has opened things up and created an opportunity. He hasn't just brought you inspiration; he's also personally handed over business opportunities."

"Sony Columbia has no reason not to seize this opportunity."

Merchandising! What Edgar was talking about was merchandising, including merchandise derived from the film, comics, premieres, and so on. The potential of superhero movies adapted from comics was gradually surfacing. With Sony Columbia's resources, they could easily open up the market. That's the real gold mine.

Amy, "As you said, we've pushed open the door to a brand new world. For the path ahead, we have the ability to continue on our own. So, it seems we don't need to continue cooperating."

The shock and surprise only lasted for a brief moment. Amy immediately regained her composure, once again displaying the demeanor of a public company CEO.

However, Edgar wasn't flustered at all. "Certainly. Our cooperation can end here. Those ideas and inspirations, consider them a gift. I hope we'll have opportunities to cooperate again in the future."

...That's it? Decisive, clean, ending just like that.

Not only that, but Edgar also showed his magnanimity, accepting the outcome of failed negotiations gracefully?

No, of course not. Amy immediately read the subtext in Edgar's words: Anson didn't need Sony Columbia. Just like that, Anson would start cooperating with Warner Bros.

Clearly, Anson still had countless ideas and inspirations in his mind. He was able to create opportunities at Sony Columbia and could replicate that feat at Warner Bros. too.

Furthermore, in Hollywood, everyone knew about Warner Bros.' ambition. What happens when Anson's genius clashes with Warner Bros.' wealth?

Amy was stunned for a moment, quickly extinguishing the thoughts in her mind. If she let them continue, that notion would quickly grow into a monster.

Amy hit the brakes, revealing a big smile. "But I believe, if we continue cooperating, we can become the best partners in Hollywood."

Edgar slightly tilted his head. "Really? I wouldn't be so sure. We always have to face conflicts of interest and power struggles. That's not a good thing."

Amy's smile stayed on her lips, but her eyes were cold, devoid of warmth. "Ha, we are drawing a blueprint. Peter Parker is just a small part of it. Believe me, this project's influence is minimal. Anson really doesn't need to worry about our prospects."

Edgar, "Heh heh, of course, Sony Columbia's affairs are certainly none of our business to interfere with. Small fry like us, going it alone, have no room to speak at all. Believe me, we don't want to get involved in such things either. After all, we're too busy worrying about our own stuff, right?"

Edgar wasn't being confrontational or sarcastic. From his tone and expression, it was clear he was sincere.

However, after a pause, Edgar changed the subject.

"I believe Michael Linton has his capabilities, and I also believe you have your insights. Who knows, maybe you can find a way to work together and make Sony Columbia even stronger."

Amy didn't understand—

Not the literal meaning, but the deeper meaning hidden in Edgar's words.

So, was Edgar now trying to persuade Amy and Michael to bury past grudges and combine their strengths? But this was an internal matter for Sony Columbia's management. What did it have to do with Edgar? What did it have to do with Anson or the "Spider-Man" project? Why would Edgar suggest this?

More accurately, it wasn't that she didn't understand; it was precisely because she understood that too many thoughts were swirling in her mind, making it impossible to sort them out for a moment. As a result, Amy's eyes revealed a hint of deeper meaning as she looked at Edgar, trying to see his true purpose clearly.

Edgar, however, left it at that, not delving any further.

"I'm starving. I'm ready to order. How about you, are you ready?" Having said that, Edgar revealed a big smile.

Amy looked at Edgar's smile and gently nodded. "Of course, I'm ready. Tonight, you're the host, so, do you have any recommendations here?"

The conversation ended at a strange point, but the deeper meaning hidden in the words gently raised ripples, spreading out layer by layer.

During dinner, the conversation was pleasant. Both of them temporarily forgot about work and put down their burdens, truly enjoying the freedom of back-and-forth dialogue. It was very surprising that Amy and Edgar indeed got along very well, completely forgetting the passage of time.

When saying goodbye at the entrance, Amy thought for a moment. Looking at the valet parking attendant pulling her car up in front of her, she hesitated for a moment, then turned and looked at Edgar.

"I know you've already realized the crisis, but be careful. They are prepared, and possibly even more persuasive than you imagine."

Having said that, without waiting for Edgar to respond, Amy turned, got in the car, started the engine, and drove away.

Edgar watched the tail of the car, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes. Who was she hinting at with those words... could it be William Morris?

"Sir!" The valet attendant drove his car over. Edgar gathered his scattered thoughts, took out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it over, got into the driver's seat, and also drove away.

He drove through the busy, surging flow of traffic in Manhattan, finally slowly pulling up at the NBC Studios building, ready to meet Anson after work—

After finishing his work at the Angelica Film Center, his afternoon and evening were still fully booked. His last schedule for the day was to record a short video ad for NBC's "Today Show," a slightly spoof comedy-style fake ad.

However, something unexpected happened.

"What? Anson has already left?" Edgar found the studio empty.

After asking in detail, the filming had finished just a short while ago, meaning Edgar's timing calculation was correct. Then someone came to pick Anson up, and Anson left. The show staff were also very surprised to see Edgar.

Edgar immediately contacted Noah, but Noah didn't answer; instead, he ended the call.

Something wasn't right.

Could it be Anne Hathaway making a surprise appearance?

There were many possibilities. Edgar told himself not to let his mind wander, but his intuition was ringing alarm bells.

Edgar communicated with the TV station and went to the monitoring room to watch the surveillance footage. But unfortunately, the lighting was dim. Although they saw Anson and Noah getting into a car, they still couldn't see the faces of the people who came clearly.

However, Edgar still recognized the vehicle and let out a long breath.

"Edgar, is everything alright?" The "Today Show" producer was full of tension. If something happened to Anson...

Edgar laughed in spite of himself. "It's nothing, it's nothing, everything's fine."

That vehicle, if Edgar hadn't mistaken it, belonged to Bryan Swarthmore.

*Chapter 1596: Backstabbing Ambush*

This is Hollywood. For any one event, there are a hundred possible explanations; similarly, there are a thousand potential paths leading to a disastrous quagmire.

Brian Swosstone, the current CEO of the William Morris Agency.

Despite holding a management position, Brian was still a seasoned and top-tier agent actively working on the front lines. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were his long-term clients, and not long ago, he had just secured Catherine Zeta-Jones her first Oscar statuette.

Smooth operator, skilled in navigating relationships, adept at reading people, and always finding favor on all sides.

These were Brian's strengths.

Imagine, at William Morris, an agency that emphasizes seniority and experience, Brian was able to leapfrog over multiple partners to sit in the CEO's chair and firmly control the company for three years without faltering. This was Brian's most powerful credential, and absolutely no one could underestimate him.

All along, Edgar had been full of gratitude towards Brian—

Back then, without Brian's tacit approval, even if Edgar had secretly slipped the (information/profile) of the unsigned Anson into the "Spider-Man" audition materials, there's no way the company would have agreed to actually let Anson go audition at Sony Columbia.

But similarly, Edgar hadn't forgotten that it was also due to Brian's tacit approval, and perhaps even encouragement, that there had always been malicious competition within William Morris, with some people openly trying to snatch Anson's projects.

Furthermore, there was one very important thing: Brian had a very close personal relationship with the group of "Spider-Man" producers, including Amy Pascal. If anyone claimed Brian was completely unaware of the internal competition within William Morris for the Peter Parker role, Edgar would absolutely not believe it.

So, why was Brian Swosstone here? Why had he intercepted Anson?

Involuntarily, Amy's reminder flashed in Edgar's mind again—

Everything was just as he suspected. Was Amy hinting at Brian?

Not just William Morris, but Brian Swosstone specifically?

But why?

Brian already had top Hollywood superstars as clients. He didn't need a "Spider-Man." Edgar truly couldn't see the reason why Brian would try to get involved with Peter Parker. And Brian appearing before Anson tonight was even more baffling; there was no logic, no clue.

Or had he missed something?

Or perhaps, it was all just his own mind playing tricks on him, his head filled with wild thoughts. Maybe that deep blue vintage Ferrari 250GT wasn't Brian's, but Charles Wood's, or maybe Chris Evans', or even Anne Hathaway's?

See, there were many possibilities, and maybe he was just scaring himself, letting himself break free from the reins at the slightest hint of trouble.

He needed to calm down.

Edgar took a deep breath, lay down on the long sofa in the hotel room living area, folded his hands on his chest, closed his eyes, and quieted himself. He let the noise and bustle of the street wash over him, gradually immersing himself in thought, pushing all the clutter out of his mind.

However, his intuition still pricked slightly.

This reminded Edgar of the time he took the risk of secretly slipping Anson's personal information into the "Spider-Man" audition materials.

At that time, he and Anson hadn't signed a contract yet, and Anson was just starting out. Among Anson's group of friends, not to mention already famous actors like Brad Renfro, even James Franco and Chris Evans were more well-known than Anson. But his intuition just saw Anson.

No evidence, no clues, just intuition.

Now, that intuition was back.

In the past two years, a series of successes and smooth sailing had gradually made him lose his animal instinct. Even when facing Sony Columbia, he was still meticulously planning and controlling the overall situation. But he had forgotten that Hollywood was the Amazon jungle; there were no permanent failures and no permanent victories. Everything was cyclical.

Actors. Directors. Producers. Agents. And so on and so forth, no one was an exception.

Standing at the peak for three to five years was already rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and wanting to remain strong and evergreen over a long period of ten or even twenty years was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

He couldn't get complacent. It was far from the time to be complacent. He needed to re-examine some recent events. He must have missed something.

Crisis, in the darkness, gradually revealed its sharp edge, stabbing fiercely towards his heart.

Hiss.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Edgar suddenly sat upright. He grabbed his car keys and jacket, pushed open the hotel room door without hesitation, and ran out jogging.

"Shit."

"Shit, shit, shit!"

Edgar couldn't believe he had let his guard down. This was entirely on him; he couldn't blame others. He needed a severe wake-up call.

The car drove through the night, his brain running at high speed again, until—

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

The vibration of his phone interrupted his thoughts. Edgar glanced at the caller ID, immediately sat up straight, and answered the call.

"Hey, Anson!"

Edgar tried his utmost to remain calm, but a hint of urgency inevitably slipped into his voice.

Anson noticed. "You answered so fast, the dial tone didn't even have time to ring here. What happened to waiting for three rings like we agreed?"

Edgar chuckled. "Haha, you're Anson Wood, things are different. So, was the recording/shoot smooth?" Edgar tried hard to control the impulse not to cut directly to the subject. He didn't want to seem like he was going to catch someone cheating, doing his best to avoid an accusatory tone.

Anson said, "Smooth, everything was smooth. I'm just really tired, God. Caffeine doesn't work on me anymore; I could fall asleep standing up right now."

Edgar replied, "Then hurry and get some rest. You need rest, some precious sleep time. How about this, I'll postpone tomorrow morning's interview by two hours, leave it to me to arrange. You get a good rest tonight."

Anson sighed softly. "Don't worry about me. I'm betting with Luca on who can stay awake longer..."

"Heh." Luca's cold laughter came from the side, completely unmasking his contempt.

Anson burst out laughing. "Did you hear Luca's response? Haha, apparently the fact that I was secretly sleeping was discovered. But that's not fair, he doesn't have to stand in front of the camera and put on a brave face for work."

Luca retorted, "Now you know how hard it is to earn a living, huh?"

Edgar also started laughing along. Good. This was good. Anson's tone and state sounded completely normal.

Then, changing the subject, Anson continued, "I called you because I wanted to let you know, someone from William Morris came looking for me, trying to poach me."

Poach him?

Poach!

Edgar froze instantly. What had been happening in the corner he hadn't been paying attention to? So, the "Spider-Man 2" competition was just a smokescreen? Brian's real target was Anson?

Pull the rug out from under him?

A tornado instantly whipped up in his mind, causing Edgar to grip the steering wheel tightly, almost all his strength pouring out.

"Luca, what was that person's name again... Ah, Brian Swosstone, a partner at William Morris."

Edgar's heart suddenly constricted. Brian himself had come in person? He could hear his own voice was exceptionally calm, explaining kindly and without a ripple to Anson, "He's also our CEO."

***