Chapter 1077: Popularity

Firefly Studios, sitting in the rest area next to the tempered glass curtain wall on the second floor of the digital office LOFT, AOL President Robert Pitman looked at the sky and was gradually dyed with red clouds, but he did not see the joy of this magnificent sunset scene. .
The article that Eric received from the New York Times a few days ago has caused numerous media discussions around the world, and at the same time, it has once again injected a strong boost into the already serious bubble of the new technology industry. Even if it has been more than a week, the influence of this interview has not dissipated. However, as one of Nasdaq’s most important new technology companies, AOL, which should have benefited from this interview, has been tossed by Eric’s comments in the interview.
On the day of Yahoo's listing, AOL's share price has been affected by the obvious decline. In the past week, influenced by that interview, Yahoo’s market value has successfully exceeded 100 billion US dollars, and the US online market value has oscillated down from the peak of 66.7 billion US dollars. It has now slipped to the edge of 60 billion US dollars.
However, this is not the most serious.
In an interview, Eric suddenly revealed that the Firefly Group's clover fund still holds up to 3.1% of AOL's stock. This incident has made the entire US online management and other shareholders feel like a needle, even affecting AOL and Time Warner. Intensive merger negotiations.
Therefore, although the heart is in the fire, AOL management has to face this problem.
However, when Steve Case was determined to contact Eric, Eric suddenly disappeared into the media's field of vision. He not only left Manhattan, but also did not return to Los Angeles. Even London did not have the other side. Steve Case personally called the Firefly Group and got a response from Mr. Williams who was on vacation and didn't want to be disturbed. The US online never happened in the Firefly system. This is the case.
In desperation, Steve Case was cheeky and asked Yahoo CEO Ian Guern. Although he got the news of Eric in Maryland, he was reminded not to disturb the other. Steve Case could only do it, but just after hearing the news that Eric returned to Los Angeles, he sent his deputy, Robert Pitman, to fly over the night.
The orange-red fire cloud gradually turned dark red. Robert Pittman looked at his watch and was about to ask the staff again when Eric Williams got off work. Just got up and saw Eric and another The casually dressed middle-aged man came out of the office at the end of the corridor, and Robert Pittman hurried up.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Williams," although the heart was anxious, Robert Pittman politely greeted Eric with patience.
"Bob, you still call me Eric," Eric smiled and grabbed Robert Pittman and said: "This is Robert Byron, the special effects director of my film."
Robert Pittman once again greeted Robert Byron, and said: "Wei... Eric, I booked a location at a nearby restaurant, can I have dinner together?"
Robert Byron knew that Eric and Robert Pitman had something to talk about and took the initiative to leave. Eric watched Robert Byron leave, and said to Robert Pittman: "I will wait for a cocktail party, let's eat it on the big ship next door."
Robert Pittman just wants to get a chance to talk to Eric, and naturally he won't object.
The two rushed to the restaurant next door to the ship, just sitting down, Robert Pitman could not wait to say: "Eric, AOL wants to buy back 3.1% of the clover fund, how much do you think is appropriate?

Eric did not answer Robert Pitman's words and saw another completely strange and beautiful waitress coming over, completely ignoring the opposite of Robin Pitman, and eagerly asked him what he wanted to eat. Slightly frowning, Eric said to the waitress: "Let George come over, I have something to say to him."
After the waitress squatted, she realized that Eric said that George should be the manager of several restaurants on the big ship, George Watlin. Although she was puzzled, she nodded and turned away.
After a while, George Warrett, who was informed, hurried over and respectfully said, "Mr. Williams, are you looking for me?"
Eric pointed to the waitress who was standing not far away and said, "Don't change it, or I will replace you."
George Wallett’s cold sweat suddenly came out.
Because of the frequent access to some of Hollywood's most important figures, several restaurants, bars and banquet halls on the Titanic, especially the waiter's position in the in-house restaurant for the Firefly Group executives, are definitely countless Hollywood dreams. The shortcut of the dreams of men and women. In the past few years, although Eric himself has not vividly thought about the waiters in the restaurant, there are indeed many ‘lucky’ who are valued by Hollywood big figures.
Therefore, although it is only an ordinary manager of the firefighting group's lowest level of catering and entertainment department, George Wallett has naturally become a target for many people because of the responsibilities of the servants of the team of waiters on the big ship.
The most important thing in Hollywood is the beautiful girl with a beautiful face. You want to come to the big ship as a waiter, and don't want to pay extra price. Why? In the past few years, although I dare not be too brazen, George Valint has actually enjoyed a few very high-quality beauty. Under the matchmaking of some people in the circle, he even secretly invested in a Hollywood brokerage company. The waiters in the restaurant all signed an agency contract with the brokerage company.
George Wallett has always wondered why Eric, who often comes to the restaurant to eat, has never had an interest in the waiters in the restaurant, which is not in line with the character of the big boss. At this point Eric casually broke, he finally understood. There is no fool in Hollywood, let alone the youth in front of you.
How to say it now.
Do you want to assure the big boss that you have never touched any of the waitresses in this in-house restaurant?
He did not touch it.
To be able to find such an important position, George Wallett is not lacking in savvy. If Eric or some of the other high-level executives of the group saw a girl and realized that the girl had already signed up with his brokerage firm, she might only pay a smile. However, if these big sisters find that the girl they are looking for is actually a second-hand goods that has been enjoyed in advance, his end will definitely be very miserable.
Hollywood is full of too many transactions and desires, Eric is not morally clean, just beat George Valint. He didn't think about replacing the other party. The big ship exhibition hall was under his own eyes. Eric could still see that the food and beverage department on board was still very well managed, not to mention changing people. There won't be any changes.
Looking at George Varint, who was pale in front of his face, Eric put some hands impatiently to signal the other to leave, but immediately shouted at him and said: "You contact Ms. Kelly Haynes and let her be responsible for this. The restaurant re-invited a few waiters. I was too lazy to manage other places, but don't let me hear anything messy."
George Wallett nodded quickly, but his face flashed awkwardly, and his level was far from being able to contact the director of the Eric Assistant Office.
However, seeing Eric has no patience, he did not dare to ask, and quickly left. I can't contact myself. The person in charge of the exhibition hall, or the leader of the theme park operation department of the upper group, can always contact, but I have to be tossed a layer of skin.
After sending away George Wlint, Eric and Robert Pittman had a dinner, Eric continued: "We just talked about where, oh, you want to buy back the stock in the hands of the clover fund?"
Robert Pittman tried to make himself forget the little episode, and he didn't dare to have any dissatisfaction. He replied, "Yes, Eric."

Why?
Eric asked, adding:
AOL’s share price has a lot of room to rise, and I don’t want to sell it now.

Robert Pitman hesitated, or bluntly explained: "Time Warner does not want the Firefly Group to directly hold shares in the new company after the merger."
Eric nodded and seemed to approve the reason. He said: "How is the progress of your negotiations over there?"
Robert Pitman knew that there was no need to hide in front of Eric. He quickly said: "The management authority has been discussed since the merger. The audit of the balance sheet has also started. Probably, at the latest next February, the merger. The case can be submitted to the SEC (Federal Trade Commission) for review. Eric, if the Firefly Group insists on holding this 3.1% stake, it is likely to directly affect the attitude of the SEC."
Eric carefully recalled that if the merger progress was given by Robert Pitman, the merger of AOL and Time Warner was just one year ahead of the original time and space.
At the same time, although the details are not clear, Eric is also sure that the Nasdaq index of 2,600 points has been exceeded at this time, which is much higher than the original time and space.
In other words, the history of Nasdaq has now undergone a very significant deviation due to the emergence of Eric. This bias has also been destined to lead to an early collapse of the Nasdaq index.
In sporadic memories, the crazy NASDAQ index rushed from 3000 to 5000 points around 2000, and it only took four months to rise faster than the previous four years.
Then, at the current 2600 to 3000 points, the rate of increase is relatively restrained. Even if it takes one month to calculate every 100 points, there is only eight months left before the collapse of the Nasdaq 5000 points. Eight months, from now on, just until July next year, is the 30% forward equity trading contract agreed between Yahoo and Microsoft.
However, Microsoft still has a three-month hesitation period to decide whether to fulfill the contract and fulfill the contract.
This is not a good thing.
Once the Nasdaq crashes, Yahoo's share price will definitely fall far beyond Microsoft.
Although knowing that the specific Nasdaq index is not as simple and straightforward as one might imagine, at least, the possibility of the Nasdaq’s early collapse next year is very high. If you want to be cheaper than Microsoft, the Nasdaq index must be able to support at least October next year.
But no one can guarantee this kind of thing.
In the past, one of the fuses of the Nasdaq crash was the failure of Microsoft’s antitrust case. Eric spoke for Microsoft in an interview with The New York Times. This is not a simple rise. I only hope that the Ministry of Justice will be against Microsoft. The investigation of the anti-monopoly case can be dragged on for a longer period of time, and it will not be the best.
If you think about it, if you don't have the fuse of the Microsoft antitrust case, perhaps, with the madness of the Nasdaq index in the future, since it can rush to 5000 points, it will continue to rush to 6000 points, or even higher, not without may.
Of course, if the Nasdaq is spurred by other fuses in advance, it will not be impossible to collapse before 5000 points.
AOL in front of us is actually a very unstable factor.
Although he gave up the seat of the AOL board of directors and no longer intervenes in AOL's management, Eric's heart is not too laissez-faire because of this concern.
Quickly sorting out this information in his mind, Eric briefly expressed his moment, and said to Robert Pittman: "I said before, I will not do anything bad for AOL, because it is also harmful to fireflies. Benefits. Although Firefly has sold most of AOL's stocks, you also see that our shareholding ratio is still 10.7%. Therefore, my original promise is still valid. As for the stocks you want in the Shamrock Fund, I can agree, but not now."
Robert Pittman’s expression was bitter, with a few requests in his tone:
Eric, you should also understand our difficulties, and now is the most critical stage of AOL and Time Warner negotiations.

"You are not saying that submitting the SEC review will wait until next February?" Eric was unmoved, saying: "You can reply to Steve and Time Warner, next February, if you still insist on recovering this Some stocks, I can sell them to you, of course, the price must be calculated according to the stock price at the time."
Although the stock price fluctuated during this time, everyone understands that this is only temporary. This week's trading day began. With the gradual cooling of the media trend last week, Yahoo's share price has already showed signs of a clear correction. Relatively speaking, the US online share price in the field of Internet service providers in North America will definitely show an upward trend. attitude.
In February next year, if you want to buy back the stock in the hands of the clover fund, the price that AOL needs to pay will undoubtedly be higher.
But looking at Eric did not mean to give in, Robert Pittman can only accept the reality, the two sides chatted and talked about some details, Eric in order to let AOL rest assured, but also agreed to prepare a letter of intent for the transfer of interest in advance.
After dinner, Robert Pitman hurried away, and Eric rushed to the mansion of Amy Pascal's home on the half-mountain of Santa Monica to attend the cocktail party.